QUEEN   VICTORIA 

f 
DAVID  CARB 

AND 

WALTER  PRICHARD  EATON 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


QUEEN  VICTORIA 


QUEEN    VICTORIA 

A  Play  in  Seven  Episodes 


BY 
DAVID   CARB 

AND 

WALTER  PRICHARD  EATON 


NEW  YORK 
E.  P.  BUTTON  &  COMPANY 

68 1   FIFTH  AVENUE 


Copyright,  1922, 
By  DAVID  CARS  and  WALTER  PRICHARD  EATON 


Dramatic  Rights  in  the   United   States 
Controlled  by  Equity  Players,   Inc. 


CAUTION 

All  dramatic  rights  for  Queen  Victoria,  by  David  Carb  and 
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ACT  OF  MARCH  4,  1909:  SECTION  28 

"That  any  person  'who  wilfully  or  for  profit  shall  infringe  any 
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PrinUd  in  the  United  States  of  America 


'    College 
Library 

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THE  PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY: 

fr 

ALEXANDRINA  VICTORIA  LORD  CONYNGHAM, 

„      T^  ,r  the  Lord  Chamberlain 

THE  DUCHESS  OF  KENT, 

Her  Mother       STOCKMAR 

FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  _, 

PRINCE  ALBERT  OF  COBURG 

LADY  GAY  HAWTHORN 

WILLIAM  EWART  GLADSTONE 
WILLIAM  LAMB, 

Viscount  Melbourne        BENJAMIN  DISRAELI 
THE  DUKE  OF  WELLINGTON         EDWARD>  Pr{ncg  o 

LORD  PALMERSTON 

SIR  JAMES  CLARK 
THE  ARCHBISHOP  OF 

CANTERBURY         A  FOOTMAN 

Representatives  of  the  Colonies  and  Dominions 


FIRST  EPISODE— Red  Salon  in  Kensington  Palace,  June  20, 

1837- 
SECOND  EPISODE— Reception  Room  in  Buckingham  Palace, 

October  10,  1839. 
THIRD  EPISODE— The  Same,  October  n,  1839. 

FOURTH  EPISODE— The  Same,  January,  1854. 

FIFTH  EPISODE— Bedroom  of  the  Prince  Consort,  Bucking 
ham  Palace,  December  13,  1861. 

SIXTH  EPISODE— The  Same  as  Fourth  Episode,  the  Early 
Seventies. 

SEVENTH  EPISODE— Throne  Room  in  Buckingham  Palace, 
June  20,  1897. 


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QUEEN  VICTORIA 

BY 

DAVID  CARD  and  WALTER  PRICHARD  EATON 

Produced  at  the  48th  Street  Theatre,  New  York  City,  November  is 
1923,  by  the  Equity  Players,  Inc.  (Harry  O.  Stubbs,  Managing 
Director).     Production  staged  by  Priestly  Morrison. 


CAST 

ALEXANDRINA  VICTORIA Miss  Beryl  Mercer 

THE  DUCHESS  OF  KENT Miss  Winifred  Hanley 

BARONESS  LEHZEN Miss  Anita  Rothe 

LADY  GAY  HAWTHORNE Miss  Frances  Goodrich 

PRINCE  ALBERT  OF  COBURG Mr.  Ullrich  Haupt 

EDWARD,  PRINCE  OF  WALES Mr.  Arthur  Maude 

WILLIAM  LAMB,   VISCOUNT    MEL 
BOURNE  Mr.  Donald  Cameron 

THE  DUKE  OF  WELLINGTON Mr.  Joseph  Denton 

THE  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY. .Mr.  Albert  Tavernier 

LORD  PALMERSTON Mr.  William  Ingersoll 

LORD  CONYNGHAM Mr.  Herbert  Standing,  Jr. 

BARON  STOCKMAR Mr.  Hubert  Wilke 

SIR  JAMES  CLARKE Mr.  Herbert  Farjeon 

BENJAMIN  DISRAELI Mr.  Clarence  Derwent 

WILLIAM  EWART  GLADSTONE Mr.  George  Farren 

A  FOOTMAN.  .  .  .Mr.  Borden  Harriman 


Court  Officials,  Representatives  of  the  Dominions  and  the  Colonies 
and  of  the  Army  and  the  Navy.      A  Delegation  of  Workmen,  etc. 

JAMES  H.  BELL — Stage  Manager 

Scenery,  costumes  and  stage  decorations  designed  by  Mr. 
Woodman  Thompson 


FIRST  EPISODE 

RED  SALON  IN  KENSINGTON  PALACE 
JUNE  20,  1837 


FIRST  EPISODE 

It  is  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  June  2Oth,  1837. 

The  rising  curtain  discloses  only  dimness  and 
silence,  but  slowly  there  emerge  the  outlines  of  a 
salon  in  Kensington  Palace,  a  room  seeming  more 
spacious,  perhaps,  than  it  actually  is,  because  of 
Wren's  design.  Near  the  audience,  on  their  left, 
are  tall  doors,  now  closed,  and  opposite  are  tall  win 
dows,  hidden  now  by  heavy  red  draperies  which  per 
mit  only  flecks  of  gray  light  to  enter.  At  the  rear, 
but  vaguely  seen,  is  an  archway  leading  to  other 
portions  of  the  sleeping  palace.  There  is  no  furni 
ture  in  the  salon,  save  a  row  of  chairs  standing  stiffly 
along  either  side  wall;  their  backs  are  straight 
and  tall,  and  no  doubt  they  are  William  and  Mary, 
delicately  carved  and  caned.  One  appears  to  be 
larger  than  the  rest. 

The  slumberous  silence  is  suddenly  broken  by  a 
faint  sound  of  hurrying  horses,  and  then  a  great 
pounding  on  some  outer  door.  Again  silence.  Then 
again  the  pounding,  which  ceases  abruptly  and  is  pres 
ently  succeeded  by  a  buzz  of  voices  coming  nearer. 
A  sleepy  young  FOOTMAN  in  extreme  disarray — and 
it  is  a  pity  not  to  have  buttoned  so  superb  a  jacket 
as  he  wears,  over  an  ill-concealed  nightshirt — throws 
open  the  great  doors,  and  stands  aside  to  admit  the 
ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY  and  LORD  CONYNG- 
HAM,  the  Lord  Chamberlain.  Both  these  dignitaries 

3 


Queen    Victoria 


are  dishevelled  and  dusty,  as  you  will  see  plainer 
presently,  when  the  FOOTMAN  draws  back  the  red 
window  hangings  and  admits  the  light.  They  con 
tinue  the  conversation  which  we  heard  as  they  ap 
proached. 

CONYNGHAM 

It  can't  wait.  The  Princess  Victoria  must  be  wak 
ened. 

ARCHBISHOP 

A  half  hour  or  so  ...  I  myself  feel  the  need  of 
a  little  rest.  We  could  perhaps  doze  in  a  chair. 

CONYNGHAM 

But,  my  lord,  it  is  just  five  o'clock  now.  In  a  half 
hour  or  so  Her  Highness 

ARCHBISHOP 

Her  Majesty. 

CONYNGHAM 

Ah,  yes,  yes.  Of  course.  It  is  hard  to  accustom 
oneself  to  these  sudden  changes.  She  will  be  no  less 
disturbed  by  being  awakened  in  a  half  hour  or  so 
than  now. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Well,  as  you  say. 

(He  yawns.  The  FOOTMAN  has  crossed 
to  the  windows  and  thrown  back  the 
draperies.  The  light  is  abundant,  but  gray 


Queen    Victoria 


and  dull.  The  fellow  is  trying  frantically 
to  button  his  jacket,  smooth  his  hair,  tuck 
in  his  nightshirt.  And  he  is  yet  only  partly 
awake.  He  is  startled  when  addressed) 

CONYNGHAM 

You  will  inform  your  mistress  that  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  beg  an 
audience. 

FOOTMAN 

My  lords,  I — er — the  Princess 

CONYNGHAM 

Eh? 

FOOTMAN 

I  dare  not  interrupt  her  slumbers  at  this  hour. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Do  as  you're  bid. 

(  The  poor  fellow  goes  out  rear,  much  dis 
tressed} 

What  a  pity  she  is  so  young.  If  his  majesty  had  lived 
a  few  years  more 

CONYNGHAM 
(Lowering  his  voice) 
His  Majesty  lived  too  long. 


Queen    Victoria 


ARCHBISHOP 
Eh? 

CONYNGHAM 

No  State  secret,  my  lord.  All  the  world  knows  that 
the  King  could  not  command  even  his  own  whims. 

ARCHBISHOP 
But  this  child,  what  does  she  know? 

CONYNGHAM 

She  can  be  taught;  the  King  could  not  learn. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Can  she  be  taught?  We  know  absolutely  nothing  of 
her.  Here  she  has  stayed  with  her  German  mother, 
and  her  German  governess. 

CONYNGHAM 
Her  "precious  Lehzen,"  ha,  ha ! 

ARCHBISHOP 

And  that  subtle  German,  the  Baron  Stockmar.  What 
have  they  taught  her? 

CONYNGHAM 

She  is  only  eighteen.  She  has  the  eagerness  and 
sincerity  of  youth.  His  late  Majesty  had  neither 


Queen    Victoria 


youth  nor  eagerness  nor  sincerity  nor  the  desire  for 
them. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Has  the  Princess  the  desire?  Is  she  proud,  opinion 
ated,  narrow  or  receptive  and 

CONYNGHAM 

We,  like  England  and  the  rest  of  the  world,  are 
entirely  in  the  dark  about  her.  She  is  the  Great 
Enigma.  Let  us  have  faith.  The  first  Queen  of 
England  in  a  century  and  a  third! 

ARCHBISHOP 

The  first  Queen  since  good  Queen  Anne.  .  .  .  After 
all,  England  has  been  fortunate  in  her  queens. 

CONYNGHAM 

(Confidentially} 
England  has  been  fortunate  in  her  queens'  ministers. 

(THE  DUCHESS  OF  KENT  comes  through 
the  rear  doors.  She  is  sleepy  and  thrown 
together} 

DUCHESS 

My  lords. 

(They  bow.  The  mother  of  Victoria  is 
flabby.  She  has  assumed  an  enormous  im 
portance  in  her  own  estimation  and  her 


8  Queen    Victoria 


manner  seems  to  be  derived  from  a  Laura 
Jean  Libby  conception  of  an  aristocrat. 
There  is  an  uncomfortable  pause) 

My  lords? 

ARCHBISHOP 

We  crave  your  pardon,  Duchess,   for  intruding  at 
this  unseemly  hour. 

CONYNGHAM 

Our  errand  is  of  such  moment  that  we  did  not  dare 
delay. 

DUCHESS 
Yes,  my  lords? 

CONYNGHAM 

If  we  might  be  received  by  the  Princess  Victoria 


DUCHESS 

I  am  her  mother. 

CONYNGHAM 

Yes,  Your  Grace.     But  it  is  necessary  that  we  have 
audience  of  the  Princess. 


DUCHESS 
I  am  the  Princess'  guardian. 

CONYNGHAM 
But  in  this  instance,  Your  Grace- 


Queen   Victoria 

DUCHESS 
What  is  your  errand,  my  lords? 


ARCHBISHOP, 

The  King  is  dead! 

DUCHESS 
(Flustered} 
Dead!     The  King!     Then  Drina  is 

ARCHBISHOP 

She  is  Queen  of  England.  We  must  apprise  her 
of  that  fact. 

DUCHESS 
At  last !    Queen !    Drina ! 

ARCHBISHOP 

Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  make  known  to  Her 
Highness  that  we  are  come  on  an  imperative  affair 
of  state? 

DUCHESS 

Drina!  Queen!  A  mere  child.  Just  past  her 
eighteenth  birthday.  Last  month — The  twenty- 
fourth  of  May 


IO  Queen    Victoria 


ARCHBISHOP 

(Sternly) 
Madam! 

DUCHESS 
My  lord? 

ARCHBISHOP, 

Kindly  apprise  the  Princess 

DUCHESS 
She  is  asleep.     She  never  rises  before  seven. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

The  occasion  is  unusual. 

CONYNGHAM 

Let  me  urge  Your  Grace  to  delay  no  longer. 

DUCHESS 

It's  an  awful  thing  to  be  waked  at  five,  even  with 
the  present  of  a  crown. 

(LEHZEN  enters.  She  is  neatly  dressed,  in 
plain,  rather  rigid  clothes.  Her  hair  is  well 
ordered,  albeit  prim.  She  shows  no  sleepi 
ness,  nor  haste.  For  all  her  appearance 
indicates,  it  might  be  tea  time} 


Queen    Victoria  II 

CONYNGHAM 

Ah,  Fraulein  Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

My  Lord  Chamberlain. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

Fraulein. 

LEHZEN 

Your  Grace. 

CONYNGHAM 

i 

You  will  be  overjoyed,  Fraulein,  to  learn  that  the 
King  is  dead.  I  mean — that  is  to  say — your  charge 
is  the  heir  apparent. 

LEHZEN 

(Quite  calmly.     With  an  accent} 
Ah,  that  is  gut. 

ARCHBISHOP 

At  the  behest  of  the  Prime  Minister  we  have  pre 
ceded  him  here  to  apprise  Her  Highness  of  her  ac 
cession.  If  we  may  be  permitted  to  perform  our 
mission. 

DUCHESS 

(Not  without  asperity} 
She  must  not  be  awakened  at  this  hour. 


12  Queen    Victoria 

LEHZEN 

{Ignoring  her.     To  the  Archbishop} 
She  shall  be  fetched. 

(She  goes.  The  DUCHESS  draws  in  her 
breath  angrily  and  glares  after  the  GOV 
ERNESS.  The  two  men  look  stonily  into 
space,  politely  appearing  not  to  be  aware 
of  her  humiliation.  But  she  finds  the  silence 
difficult} 

DUCHESS 

It  is  very  upsetting.  I  suppose  we  shall  have  to  move 
to  Buckingham  Palace.  I  seem  to  have  done  nothing 
all  my  life  but  move.  Tell  me,  my  lords,  is  Buck 
ingham  comfortable?  I  have  seen  only  the  State 
apartments.  The  late  King  was  not  fond  of  us. 

CONYNGHAM 

You  will  find  it  all  that  could  be  desired.  Modern 
in  every  way.  The  throne  room  is  illuminated  by 
gas  from  the  great  chandeliers. 

DUCHESS 
(Ecstatically} 

Gas!  That  will  be  marvellous.  My  lords,  do  you 
think  Drina ? 

(She  stops.  For  VICTORIA  slips  in  at  the 
rear.  She  is  only  slightly  awake — a  sim- 


Queen    Victoria  13 

pie,  sweet,  unsophisticated  girl,  who  can 
scarcely  keep  her  eyes  open.  She  holds  a 
plain  dressing  gown  tightly  together,  a  curl 
paper  adorns  her  forehead,  her  hair  is 
plaite'd  and  hangs  'down  her  back.  Her 
feet  are  in  bedroom  slippers.  Her  face  at 
the  moment  is  blank  and  bewildered} 

( The  two  men  fall  to  their  knees} 

DUCHESS 

(With  a  little  scream} 
Drina !    To  come  like  that! 

CONYNGHAM 

We  are  come  to  apprise  Your  Majesty  that  the  King 
is  dead. 

(When  addressed  as  "Majesty"  a  faint 
smile  of  satisfaction  comes  over  her  face} 

VICTORIA 

He  is  dead !    Oh,  I'm  so  sorry. 

CONYNGHAM 

As  the  daughter  of  the  late  Duke  of  Kent,  the  fourth 
son  of  King  George  III 

• 

VICTORIA 
I  am — the — the — I  am — 


14  Queen   Victoria 

ARCHBISHOP 
(Mercifully ) 
We  are  come,  also,  to  inform  Your  Majesty 

(Again  the  smile  of  satisfaction  on  her 
face.  She  murmurs:  "Majesty") 

— that  his  late  Majesty  died  calmly,   like  a   good 
Christian,  at  peace  with  God  and  man. 

( There  is  the  faintest  hint  of  sarcasm  in  his 
voice} 

CONYNGHAM 

As  the  daughter  of  the  late  Duke  of  Kent,  Your 
Majesty  is  the  heir  to  the  throne. 

VICTORIA 
(Still  dazed) 
I  am  Queen  of  England! 

(An  expression  of  wonderment  passes  over 
her  face.  She  stands  like  a  bedraggled 
Jeanne  d'Arc.  The  FOOTMAN,  now  im 
maculate,  enters  from  the  left  and  brings 
VICTORIA  an  imposingly  sealed  envelope. 
The  two  officials  rise.  She  is  utterly  bewil 
dered.  She  stares  at  the  letter  on  the  salver 
as  though  it  were  a  sacred  relic.  The 
ARCHBISHOP  and  LORD  CHAMBERLAIN 
bow  themselves  out.  Her  eyes  follow 
them} 


Queen    Victoria  15 

I  am  Queen  of  England ! 

(She  is  frightened,  as  the  realization  soaks 

in) 
Oh,  Mamma,  I — I 


DUCHESS 
Take  it. 

(VICTORIA  looks  at  her  mother  blankly, 
takes  the  letter  and  holds 'it  limply} 

Read  it. 

(VICTORIA  opens  it,  reads  it — her  lips 
spelling  out  the  words — then  looks  up 
dully } 

What  does  it  say? 

VICTORIA 

"The  Prime  Minister,  Lord  Melbourne,  craves  of 
Her  Majesty" — Majesty!  Queen  of  England.  .  .  . 
Mamma,  I  am  Queen.  .  .  . 

DUCHESS 
(Seizing  the  letter} 

Tsct!  "Craves  an  audience  before  the  arrival  oi 
the  Councillors  of  State."  Send  an  answer. 

( The  Queen  looks  scared} 
Tell  him 


1 6  Queen   Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Yes. 

(To  FOOTMAN) 

Tell  my  lord  Melbourne  that  I — that  the  Queen — 
that  Her  Majesty — Majesty.  .  .  . 

DUCHESS 
Go  ort. 

VICTORIA 

Her  Majesty  will — will 


(LEHZEN  enters.    VICTORIA  runs  to  her] 

Lehzen,  Lord  Melbourne  craves  an  audience,  and 
then  there  will  be  a  Council  of  State. 


LEHZEN 

(Holding  her  hand,  addressing  the  FOOTMAN) 
Her  Majesty  will  receive  Lord  Melbourne  at  once. 

VICTORIA 

Not — not  in  this! 

(She  pats  her  dressing  gown} 

DUCHESS 

You  must  dress. 

LEHZEN 

(To  VICTORIA) 
Lord  Melbourne  must  not  be  kept  waiting. 


Queen    Victoria  17 


DUCHESS 

Drina,   it's   absolutely  immodest  to   appear  before 
people  in  a  peignoir. 

(LEHZEN  pats  her  pupil  reassuringly} 
I  won't  permit  it. 

(STOCKMAR  enters 

LEHZEN 
You've  heard? 

(He  nods} 

Lord  Melbourne  wishes  to  see  Drina. 

DUCHESS 
Drina  mustn't  see  him  like  that. 

STOCKMAR 

(Mildly} 

The  Prime  Minister  will  not  be  shocked — he  is  an 
elderly  man. 

VICTORIA 

It's — it's  not  proper. 

STOCKMAR 

Your  informality  will  be  an  indication  of  your  seri 
ousness. 

(VICTORIA   smiles,   completely   reassured. 
The  DUCHESS  is  peeved} 


1 8  Queen    Victoria 


DUCHESS 


I  suppose  Baron  Stockmar  is  the  final  authority  on 
these  little  niceties. 

(They  don't  hedd  her} 


LEHZEN 

It  would  be  better  for  Drina's  manner  to  be  infor 
mal  also.  Impulsive,  friendly. 

STOCKMAR 
Yes,  but  dignified. 

VICTORIA 

What  will  I  say  to  him  ? 

STOCKMAR 

"I  am  very  happy" — No — "I  have  the  desire" — 
That  won't  do  either.  "It  has  long  been  my  in 
tention  to  retain  Your  Lordship  and  the  rest  of  the 
Ministry  at  the  head  of  affairs."  That's  it. 

VICTORIA 
"It  has  long  been  my — my " 


LEHZEN 

Intention. 


Queen    Victoria  19 


VICTORIA 

"It  has  long  been  my  intention  to  retain  Your  Lord 
ship  and  the  rest  of  the  Ministry  at  the  head  of 
affairs." 

LEHZEN 

Gut! 

VICTORIA 

"It  has  long  been  my  intention  .  .  ." 

(She  repeats  the  words  silently} 

(The  FOOTMAN  throws  open  the  doors 
with  a  great  flourish.  LEHZEN  and  STOCK- 
MAR  go  out  at  the  rear.  The  DUCHESS 
follows  angrily} 

Lehzen,  stay  with  me! 

FOOTMAN 
Lord  Melbourne! 

( The  PRIME  MINISTER  1*5  in  full  court  dress, 
in  striking  contrast  to  the  disarray  of  the 
Queen.  He  raises  VICTORIA'S  hand  and 
kisses  it.  She  gulps  and  then  repeats 
STOCKMAR'S  words  meticulously,  like  a 
school-girl  repeating  a  lesson} 

VICTORIA 

It  has  long  been  my  intention  to  retain  Your  Lord 
ship  and  the  rest  of  the  Ministers  at  the  head  of 
affairs. 


2O  Queen    Victoria 


(  The  stately,  elderly  man  bows  again  over 
her  hand,  kisses  it,  and  is  backing  out,  his 
eyes  regarding  her  with  curiosity.  She 
catches  his  glance,  sees  it  is  kindly  and  be 
nevolent,  smiles  in  a  shy,  girlish,  impulsive 
way,  and  takes  a  step  toward  him} 

Will  you — will  you  be  my  friend? 

(He  straightens,  smiles} 

MELBOURNE 

May  I  be  your  friend? 


VICTORIA 

If  you  only  would!     I  am  somewhat  afraid. 

MELBOURNE 

There  is  nothing  to  fear. 

VICTORIA 

I  haven't  had  much — much  practice  in  being  a  queen. 


MELBOURNE 

It  is  Providence,  not  practice,  that  makes  a  queen, 
Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

But  practice  and  a  nice  prime  minister  will  help,  I 
am  sure. 


Queen    Victoria  21 

MELBOURNE 

I  shall  strive  to  be  the  nicest  prime  minister  in  the 
world. 

VICTORIA 

(Extending  her  hand} 
Oh,  we  will  be  the  greatest  friends. 

(He  presses  her  hand  and  goes.  She  stands 
looking  dreamily  after  him,  the  smile  still 
on  her  face.  The  DUCHESS,  LEHZEN  and 
STOCKMAR  return} 

LEHZEN 
You  had  better  dress  now,  Drina. 

DUCHESS 

(Snappily} 
Naturally ! 

LEHZEN 

Come,  my  dear. 

DUCHESS 

(Freezing  the  GOVERNESS) 
Come,  Drina. 

(VICTORIA  starts  toward  LEHZEN,  has  an 
instant  of  doubt,  and  dutifully,  like  a  little 
girl,  goes  with  her  mother} 


22  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Am  I  really  and  truly  Queen,  Mamma  ? 

DUCHESS 

You  see,  my  dear,  that  it  is  so. 

VICTORIA 

Then,  dear  Mamma,  I  hope  you  will  grant  me  the 
first  request  I  make  to  you  as  Queen. 

DUCHESS 

You  can  command  now,  my  child. 

VICTORIA 

Then  I  will  command  that  my  bed  be  moved  out  of 
your  room. 

(They  go,  the  elder  woman  not  at  all 
pleased.  LEHZEN  watches  her  charge  af 
fectionately.  She  and  STOCKMAR  speak 
with  heavy  Teutonic  accents.) 

STOCKMAR 

Her  first  decision  as  Queen  is  sensible. 

LEHZEN 

(Indulging  in  one  of  her  rare  smiles) 
It  is  evident  the  Duchess  will  not  rule  England. 


Queen    Victoria  23 


STOCKMAR 

No  one  but  the  Duchess  ever  supposed  she  would. 
(A  pause} 

LEHZEN 

And  so,  Baron,  it  has  come  at  last.  Our  pupil  takes 
her  place. 

STOCKMAR 

She  sits  upon  the  mightiest  throne  in  the  world. 

LEHZEN 

So  young,  so  inexperienced! 

STOCKMAR 

But  positive.  An  indiscreet  person  might  call  her 
stubborn.  That  will  help  her  to  gain  experience. 

LEHZEN 

Quite  the  contrary.  But  it  will  help  her  not  to  be 
discouraged  by  her  inexperience.  Or  indeed  to 
realize  it. 

STOCKMAR 

(Bowing} 

I  marvel  constantly  at  your  wisdom,  my  dear  Frau- 
lein. 


24  Queen    Victoria 


LEHZEN 

We  have  given  her  an  uberwaltigend  sense  of  the 
dignity  of  her  position.     It  is  that  will  aid  her  most. 

STOCKMAR 

That — and  us. 

LEHZEN 

She  will  still  need  us. 

STOCKMAR 

More  than  ever.     My  dear  Fraulein,  we  must  be 
cautious. 

LEHZEN 

Ah  yes,  cautious. 

STOCKMAR 

Lest  our  affection  harm  her.     She  will  lean  heavily 
upon  us. 

LEHZEN 

Poor  Duchess! 

STOCKMAR 

I  fear  her  sun  has  set. 

LEHZEN 

Yes  ... 

STOCKMAR 

During  these  early  years  of  her  reign  we  two,  whom 
she  trusts  and  respects,  must  guide  her.     We  shall 


Queen    Victoria  25 


have  to  be  very  wise  and  most  austere  with  ourselves. 
We  must  set  aside  our  fondness  for  her  and  con 
sider  only  our  responsibility. 


LEHZEN 


It  is  great — our  responsibility — to  her,  to  England, 
to  Germany. 

STOCKMAR 

Exactly.     Only  with  our  guidance  can  she  rule  Eng 
land. 

LEHZEN 

And  make  a  German  marriage. 

STOCKMAR 

That  is  the  first  thing  we  must  settle. 

( The  FOOTMAN  throws  open  the  doors  at 
the  left  with  a  grand  flourish] 

LEHZEN 

Here  are  the  councillors. 

STOCKMAR 

We  had  better  advise  her  how  to  address  them. 

(To  the  FOOTMAN) 
Arrange  the  room  for  Her  Majesty. 

(They  go  out  rear} 


26  Queen    Victoria 

FOOTMAN 
(Announcing} 
His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

( The  DUKE,  in  full  court  costume,  as  are 
all  the  others,  enters  pompously  and  bows 
with  respect,  but  discovering  that  VICTORIA 
is  not  present,  straightens  and  crosses  to 
the  windows] 

Viscount  Melbourne;   His  Grace,  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury;   Lord  Conyngham;   Lord  Palmerston. 

(LORD  PALMERSTON  is  slightly  over  fifty, 
debonair,  dashing,  supremely  confident, 
flamboyantly  dressed,  his  whiskers  obvi 
ously  dyed.  No  one  speaks  until  they  have 
all  been  announced  and  have  entered.  The 
FOOTMAN  then  places  the  largest  chair  in 
the  centre  and  leaves  the  others  against  the 
walls.  He  exits  rear] 

WELLINGTON 

I've  heard  she's  wilful. 

MELBOURNE 

I  don't  know  about  that,  but  she's  charmingly  spon 
taneous. 

ARCHBISHOP 

A  child — a  mere  child. 


Queen    Victoria  27 


CONYNGHAM 

When  we  addressed  her  she  seemed  frightened,  like 
a  little  school-girl. 

PALMERSTON 

She  would  indeed  be  callous,  were  she  not  frightened 
when  a  Lord  Chamberlain  and  an  Archbishop  invade 
her  privacy  at  five  in  the  morning. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Really! 

MELBOURNE 

Palmerston ! 

PALMERSTON 

Your  pardon,  my  lords.  I  am  forever  forgetting 
how  anything  bare  shocks  Church  and  State.  Even 
the  bare  truth. 

WELLINGTON 

Have  you  ever  had  a  decent  thought,  Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

Occasionally,  but  it  is  not  necessary.  Indecency  is 
the  normal  state  of  man.  In  youth  it  is  condoned; 
in  age  it  is  called  worldly  wisdom. 

CONYNGHAM 

(Ignoring  him  elaborately} 

I  was  saying  that  the  Queen  seemed  frightened,  like 
a  little  girl,  this  morning. 


28  Queen    Victoria 


PALMERSTON 

Maybe  just  sleepy,  Conyngham.  One's  eyes  are 
singularly  infantile  when  one  is  aroused  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  I  myself  do  not  appear 
altogether  adult  at  that  hour. 

(Crossing  to  WELLINGTON) 

And  you,  my  lord, — you  also  resemble  a  bewildered 
urchin  when  you  first  awake,  I  have  no  doubt. 

( The  DUKE  turns  with  cold  deliberation, 
stares  at  the  younger  man,  his  face  impas 
sive.  He  then  re-turns  to  the  window. 
MELBOURNE  chuckles.  CONYNGHAM  and 
the  ARCHBISHOP  are  amused  at  PALMERS- 
TON'S  effrontery.  He  is  not  in  the  least 
taken  down  by  the  great  man's  snub.  Con 
tinuing} 

Yet  there  is  a  fine  symbol  in  the  Queen  being  aroused 
by  Church  and  State  to  be  informed  of  her  glory 
and  her  duty  just  as  the  sun  rises  in  the  East.  For 
the  great  glory  of  Queen  Alexandrina  Victoria  will 
lie  in  the  East. 

WELLINGTON 
(Sharply} 

Her  glory  and  honor  and  duty  will  lie  right  on  this 
island. 

PALMERSTON 

In  the  matter  of  prophecy  the  indomitable  Duke  of 
Wellington  and  the  poorest  cockney  are  equals. 


Queen    Victoria  29 


MELBOURNE 

(To  change  the  subject} 

Too  bad  Lord  John  Russell  can't  come  to  greet  the 
new  Queen. 

WELLINGTON 

Why  can't  he? 

PALMERSTON 

He  danced  till  late  with  Lady  Gay  Hawthorn,  and 
'tis  said  he  must  complete  his  dream  of  her. 

(Once  more  the  DUKE  turns  to  stare  at.  the 
fellow,  and  re-turns  to  the  window} 

MELBOURNE 

What  dream  has  Peel  that  keeps  him  from  the 
Council? 

PALMERSTON 

'Tis  June,  my  lord,  and  Sir  Robert  must  a-hunting 
go.  All  in  green,  they  say,  like  Robin  Hood — or 
a  grasshopper. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

It's  a  scant  gathering  to  welcome  the  new  Queen! 

PALMERSTON 

Scant  in  numbers.     But  in  quality! 
(The  DUKE  sneezes) 


30  Queen    Victoria 

Ah,  the  great  Duke  of  Wellington  agrees  with  me 
at  last! 

WELLINGTON 

Shut  up ! 

PALMERSTON 

If  His  Grace  would  but  deign  to  glance  at  me,  he 
would  discover  that  I  am  not  a  mere  Napoleon  to 
be  banished  by  a  frown. 

WELLINGTON 

I  wish  to  God  a  word  of  mine  might  banish  you 
to  St.  Helena  or  to  Hell. 

CONYNGHAM 

Palmerston  is  impertinent. 

MELBOURNE 

He  dares  to  be.  God  pity  him  if  he  were  of  a 
lesser  family. 

ARCHBISHOP 

Ah  yes.  He  knows  full  well  that  the  Duke  is  the 
child  and  champion  of  aristocracy. 

MELBOURNE 

It  takes  courage  even  for  an  aristocrat  to  chaff  the 
great  victor  of  Waterloo. 

ARCHBISHOP 

I  catch  sarcasm  in  your  tone,  Lord  Melbourne. 


Queen    Victoria  31 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Grace  has  a  keen  ear. 

WELLINGTON 

What  is  the  hour,  Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  inform  Your  Grace. 
I  never  carry  a  timepiece;  I  always  ask  the  servant 
what  o'clock  it  is,  and  then  he  tells  me  what  he  likes. 

CONYNGHAM 

It  lacks  twenty  minutes  of  six  o'clock,  sir. 

(WELLINGTON  gazes  out  the  window  again) 

PALMERSTON 

I  do  hope  Her  Majesty  outlasts  my  time.  These 
early  hours ! 

(Yawns) 

CONYNGHAM 

It  would  have  been  considerate  of  His  late  Majesty 
to  live  a  few  hours  longer. 

(Yawns) 

MELBOURNE 

Or  several  less. 

(Yawns) 


32  Queen    Victoria 

ARCHBISHOP, 

(Yawning} 
Uh— h— h. 

MELBOURNE 

It  is  a  difficult  moment  for  a  young  girl  to  ascend 
the  throne.  The  Irish  question 

PALMERSTON 

The  Irish  question  will  always  be  with  us.  Only 
three  people  have  ever  really  understood  it — Castel- 
reagh  who  is  dead,  a  German  professor  who  has 
gone  mad,  and  I  who  have  forgotten. 

CONYNGHAM 

Her  Majesty  will  be  greatly  aided  in  her  difficulties 
by  her  youth  and  girlhood.  The  people  will  be 
enthusiastic  about  her. 

WELLINGTON 

Haven't  you  learned  yet  that  you  can  trust  nothing 
to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people? 

CONYNGHAM 

But  her  popularity  will  assist 


WELLINGTON 

Popularity  is  low  and  vulgar. 


Queen    Victoria  33 


PALMERSTON 

Who  should  know  better  than  the  Duke  of  Welling 
ton,  the  idol  of  two  generations! 

WELLINGTON 

What's  she  like,  Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

A  charming  girl. 

WELLINGTON 

Damme,  that's  not  what  I  want  to  know.  What  sort 
of  a  queen  of  England  will  she  be? 

PALMERSTON 

His  Grace  mistakes  you  for  a  soothsayer. 

MELBOURNE 

She  is  clay,  my  lord,  and  events  and  her  councillors 
will  be  the  potter.  She  can  be  made  anything  or 
everything. 

PALMERSTON 

Or  nothing? 

MELBOURNE 

She  will  be  something.  I  have  had  but  a  brief  inter 
view  with  Her  Majesty,  but  in  those  few  moments 
I  realized  that  she  has  character — will  and  perti 
nacity. 


34  Queen    Victoria 

PALMERSTON 

The  regulation  German  virtues. 

(Yawns] 
When  shall  we  be  annexed  by  Coburg? 

ARCHBISHOP, 

Has  she  imagination? 

MELBOURNE 

I  hope  not.  All  of  her  line  have  been  lost  whenever 
they  have  not  stood  solidly  on  the  ground. 

PALMERSTON 

Then  she  is  but  the  four  Georges  in  petticoats. 

MELBOURNE 

I  did  not  say  that. 

ARCHBISHOP, 

We  shall  see. 

( The  FOOTMAN,  gorgeous  now,  flings  open 
the  doors  at  the  rear) 

FOOTMAN 

Her   most   excellent   Majesty,    Queen   Alexandrina 
Victoria. 

(They  all  assume  deeply  respectful  atti 
tudes.     The  QUEEN  enters,  pale,  nervous 


Queen   Victoria  35 

— a  girlish  figure  in  deep  mourning.  She 
hesitates  an  instant,  then  moves  to  the 
chair  at  center  and  stands  before  it  uncer 
tainly.  She  sits  bolt  upright;  A  long  si 
lence.  The  QUEEN  wishes  she  knew  what 
to  do.  She  makes  as  though  to  rise,  but 
thinks  better  of  it.  She  glances  over  her 
shoulder,  hoping  to  see  STOCKMAR  or 
LEHZEN.  But  the  great  doors  are  closed. 
As  though  guilty,  she  returns  her  gaze  to 
the  front.  Another  long  silence,  during 
which  the  men  glance  sidewise  at  each 
other) 


My  lords. 


VICTORIA 
(In  a  weak,  timid  voice) 


(She  swallows  hard.  They  bow  deeply. 
Again  an  uncomfortable  silence.  She 
speaks  in  a  most  stilted  manner,  as  if  the 
words  had  been  learned  by  heart,  as  indeed 
they  have  been) 

Since  it  has  pleased  Providence  to  place  me  in  this 
station,  I  shall  do  my  utmost  to  fulfil  my  duty  to 
wards  my  country;  I  am  very  young,  and  perhaps 
in  many  things  inexperienced,  but  few  have  more  real 
good  will  and  more  real  desire  to  do  what  is  fit  and 
right  than  I  have. 

(A  pause) 


36  Queen    Victoria 


MELBOURNE 
(Advancing  a  step") 

All  England  welcomes  your  Majesty's  accession  to 
the  throne  with  faith  and  confidence  and  rejoicing. 
Your  Majesty's  ministers  have  the  inestimable  privi 
lege  of  being  the  servants  and  the  instruments  of 
the  Queen.  They  bend  their  knees  in  reverence  be 
fore  her  greatness.  She  is  the  Symbol  of  England. 
What  she  is  all  loyal  citizens  will  strive  to  become; 
to  all  the  world  she  will  stand  as  a  model  and  an 
example 

VICTORIA 

(Murmuring  to  herself) 
Example!  .  .  . 

MELBOURNE 

We  pray  Her  most  gracious  Majesty  to  receive  this 
document 

(He  offers  an  impressive  paper  heavily  sealed) 

VICTORIA 

(Frightened,  awed,  amazed) 
Example  to  all  the  world.   .  . 

(Automatically  her  hand  reaches  for  the 
paper.  Suddenly  a  band  outside  plays  the 
national  air.  Startled,  her  hand  drops.  As 
the  music  proceeds  VICTORIA  is  more  and 


Queen    Victoria  37 

more  moved.  She  clutches  the  arms  of  her 
chair.  Absolute  silence  until  the  music 
stops.  She  has  risen} 


VICTORIA 

(With  the  simplicity  and  the  fervor  of  a 
little  girl  praying} 

I  will  be  good !    I  will  be  good ! 

(Slowly  she  reaches  her  hand  toward  MEL 
BOURNE  for  the  paper,  smiling  mistily  into 
his  face} 


THE  CURTAIN  FALLS 


SECOND  EPISODE 

RECEPTION  ROOM  IN  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE 
OCTOBER  10,  1839 


SECOND  EPISODE 

It  is  two  years  later,  and  almost  twilight  of  the 
afternoon  of  October  10th,  iS^g. 

The  room  is  an  antechamber  of  VICTORIA'S  apart 
ments  in  Buckingham  Palace.  On  one  side  is  a  fine 
Georgian  chimney  piece,  but  with  no  fire  in  the  grate. 
Conspicuous  on  this  Georgian  mantel  are  an  ugly 
Empire  clock,  two  Dresden  china  groups,  and  a  quite 
terrible  vase.  Opposite  are  double  doors,  now  closed. 
The  furniture  of  the  room  is,  in  the  main,  Empire, 
and  includes  a  clawfoot  sofa  of  great  beauty.  But 
two  or  three  rosewood  chairs  with  seats  upholstered 
in  red  have  somehow  insinuated  themselves,  and  are 
standing  about  in  haphazard  fashion,  and  there  is  a 
rosewood  table  with  what  appear  to  be  albums  piled 
on  a  shelf  across  the  stretchers,  and  a  small  rosewood 
square  piano  of  the  latest  make.  At  an  Empire  tea 
table — at  least,  it  is  being  used  for  tea — are  seated 
the  DUCHESS,  LEHZEN,  and  VICTORIA.  It  is  pleasant 
to  fancy  that  they  are  using  a  Bristol  tea  set. 

LEHZEN  is  sprinkling  caraway  seeds,  which  she 
takes  from  a  small  package,  meticulously  over  her 
muffin.  The  QUEEN  is,  alas,  sitting  bolt  upright  and 
gobbling  like  a  hungry  girl  of  humble  and  uncertain 
parentage. 

41 


42  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
Lehzen,  ring  for  more  muffins,  please. 

(Her  voice  is  muffled  by  the  food  through 
which  it  must  pass] 


LEHZEN 

Pardon  ? 

VICTORIA 

More  muffins,  please. 

LEHZEN 

Muffins? 

VICTORIA 

Yes,  dear. 

(With  a  smile] 

You  are  growing  deaf. 


LEHZEN 

Not  yet,  Drina. 

VICTORIA 

You  'don't  hear  well. 

LEHZEN 

I  fear  the  fault  is  not  mine.    If  you  would  eat  slower 
and  not  try  to  talk  with  food  in  your  mouth 


Queen    Victoria  43 


DUCHESS 
(Interrupting  her} 

You  are  constantly  forgetting,  Fraulein,  that  Drina 
is  no  longer  your  pupil.  She  is  the  Queen  of  Eng 
land. 

LEHZEN 

All  the  more  need  to  call  attention  to  her  little — 
shortcomings. 

DUCHESS 

The  Queen  can  have  no  shortcomings.  What  she 
does  sets  the  fashion. 

VICTORIA 

(Like  a  little  girl  to  her  school  mistress} 
Do  I  eat  badly,  Lehzen? 

LEHZEN 

You  gobble,  my  dear. 

DUCHESS 

Drina,  this  is  insufferable.  If  you  gobble,  then  gob 
bling  is  the  correct  way  to  eat.  Besides,  for  a  Queen 
of  England  to  be  dictated  to  by  a  woman  with  a  posi 
tive  passion  for  caraway  seeds 

(Addressing  LEHZEN  direct) 


44  Queen    Victoria 

— in  your  soup,  on  your  bread,  your  roast  beef,  and 
even  dessert — caraway  seeds!  As  if  you  were  a 
canary.  Your  resemblance  to  a  canary  is  really  rather 
remote. 

(She  smiles  at  her  own  wit.  LEHZEN 
merely  purses  her  lips;  and  VICTORIA  has 
not  heard;  she  has  been  thinking  over 
LEHZEN'S  reproof] 

VICTORIA 

I  must  be  more  deliberate  in  taking  food. 
( The  FOOTMAN  enters] 

LEHZEN 
Muffins. 

(He  bows  and  is  going] 

• 

DUCHESS 

It  is  cold  in  here.    Lay  a  fire. 

FOOTMAN 

Pardon,  Your  Grace,  but  that  cannot  be  done. 

VICTORIA 

(Comfortably] 
Is  the  chimney  faulty? 

FOOTMAN 

No,  Your  Majesty. 


Queen    Victoria  45 

VICTORIA 

Then  we  will  have  a  fire. 

FOOTMAN 

There  is  no  one  to  lay  it. 

DUCHESS 
Why  can't  you  ? 

FOOTMAN 

I  am  under  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  Your  Grace.  We 
light  the  fires,  but  the  Lord  Steward  lays  them. 
There  is  a  slight  misunderstanding  at  present,  the 
first  since  her  Majesty's  accession,  between  the  Lord 
Chamberlain  and  the  Lord  Steward,  so  nothing  in 
the  way  of  fire  can  be  done. 

DUCHESS 
This  is  intolerable. 

VICTORIA 
I  think  we  ought  to  inquire  into  this. 

LEHZEN 

(To  FOOTMAN) 

Does  that  explain  why  the  windows  are  so  coated 
with  dust  that  we  can  scarcely  see  through  them? 


46  Queen    Victoria 

FOOTMAN 

Not  exactly,  Fraulein  Lehzen.  We,  the  Lord  Cham 
berlain,  we  clean  the  insides  of  the  windows,  but  the 
outside  is  under  the  Office  of  Woods  and  Forests. 
I  think  Your  Ladyship  will  find  that  you  cannot  see 
through  the  windows  because  of  what's  on  the  outside 
of  the  panes. 

(He  shakes  his  head) 

Will  that  be  all? 

LEHZEN 

Yes. 

VICTORIA 

I  think  I  will  not  have  more  muffins. 

(FooTMAN  bows  and  goes  out} 

LEHZEN 

But  you  have  not  had  enough. 

DUCHESS 

The  child  is  afraid  to  eat. 

VICTORIA 

I'm  not  afraid,  Mamma.  Thank  you,  Lehzen,  for 
calling  my  attention  to  how  I  eat.  I  will  watch  my 
manners. 


Queen   Victoria  47 


DUCHESS 

Why  should  you?    The  Fraulein  is  always  on  hand 
to  watch  them  for  you. 

VICTORIA 

It  is  really  chillier  in  here  than  I  thought. 

DUCHESS 

This  state  of  affairs  cannot  be  tolerated.    You  must 
speak  to  Lord  Melbourne. 

LEHZEN 

The  Prime  Minister  has  no  control  over  the  organ 
ization  of  the  Household. 

VICTORIA 

A  Queen  ought  to  have  a  fire  to  keep  warm. 

DUCHESS 

I  shall  speak  to  the  Duke  of  Wellington! 
(It  is  a  trump} 

LEHZEN 

Even  the  mighty  Duke  is  powerless  to  light  a  fire  in 
the  Royal  apartments. 


48  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

It's  October  now,  and  soon  winter  will  come. 

LEHZEN 

Only  an  Act  of  Parliament  can  rearrange  the  House 
hold  affairs. 

VICTORIA 

I  shall  command  the  Prime  Minister  to  take  up  the 
matter  of  a  fire  in  my  apartments  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 

(No  one  of  the  three  sees  anything  ridic 
ulous  in  this  situation) 

DUCHESS 

That  will  require  time.  And  meanwhile  the  atmos 
phere  will  be  cold  when  our  Prince  arrives. 

(VICTORIA  frowns) 

Drina  dear,  I  am  going  to  remove  that  vase  from  the 
mantelpiece. 

VICTORIA 

Why? 


It  is  ugly. 

VICTORIA 

I  like  it. 


Queen    Victoria  49 


DUCHESS 

It  Is  French  and  does  not  go  well  with  the  German 
ornaments  beside  it. 

LEHZEN 

The  clock  is  French,  too. 

VICTORIA 

I  am  very  partial  to  that  vase,  Mamma. 

DUCHESS 

Albert  has  a  most  delicate  sense  of  fitness.  The  vase 
will  be  offensive  to  him. 

(She  compromises — shoves  the  vase  back) 

VICTORIA 

(Slowly) 

I  do  so  wish  Cousin  Albert  were  not  coming  to  visit 
me. 

LEHZEN 

(With  unusual  animation} 

That  is  because  you  have  not  seen  him  since  you  were 
a  child.  Never  has  there  been  a  more  admirable 
Prince.  He  is  handsome  as  a  god — tall  and  slender 
and  refined.  And  in  character  absolutely  upright. 
He  has  none  of  the  young  men's  vices.  And  so 
gemiithlich. 


5O  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
So  you  have  told  me  often. 

LEHZEN 

Don't  you  remember  how  delighted  you  were,  Drina, 
when  your  two  cousins  visited  you  several  years  ago  ? 
How  happy  you  were,  sitting  between  them  on  the 
lofa  and  looking  through  your  album!  You  said  it 
Was  the  greatest  fun. 

VICTORIA 

{Smiling  a  little) 
It  was.    Albert  is  a  very  fine  cousin. 

DUCHESS 

He  will  make  a  very  fine  husband. 

VICTORIA 

(Annoyed) 
I  don't  want  a  husband. 

DUCHESS 

You  must  marry  someone,  my  dear. 

VICTORIA 
I  don't  want  to  marry  anybody. 


Queen    Victoria  51 

LEHZEN 

You  wrote  me  after  that  visit  of  his,  "Albert  pos 
sesses  every  quality  that  could  be  desired  to  render 
me  perfectly  happy." 

VICTORIA 

That  was  long  ago.    I  was  only  a  child. 

LEHZEN 

He  will  soon  arrive  and  you  will  see 


VICTORIA 

I  don't  want  to  marry  Albert — or  anybody. 

FOOTMAN 

(Announcing} 

The  Prime  Minister,  Viscount  Melbourne. 
( VICTORIA' s  face  lights  up} 

VICTORIA 
(Delighted] 
Oh,  Lord  Melbourne! 

(Her  manner  changes.  She  becomes  the 
QUEEN  ;  she  has  been  a  girl  being  married 
of.  With  the  hint  of  a  flourish) 

Pray,  leave  me. 

( The  two  women  go) 


52  Queen    Victoria 

We  will  receive  the  Prime  Minister. 

( The  FOOTMAN  opens  the  door  and  MEL: 
BOURNE  enters) 

Oh,  my  friend. 

(He  kisses  her  hand) 

How  have  you  been?     It  is  two  days  since  I  have 
seen  you. 

MELBOURNE 

I  have  been  occupied  with  Your  Majesty's  affairs. 

VICTORIA 

But  you  could  have  found  a  moment  to  call.     I  am 
jo  disturbed,  my  lord. 

MELBOURNE 

Disturbed,  Your  Majesty? 

VICTORIA 
Everybody  involves  me  in  things  I  would  be  free  of. 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty  is  a  Queen. 

VICTORIA 
I  am  also  a  woman. 


Queen    Victoria  53 


MELBOURNE 


That  is  why  I  craved  this  audience.  Prince  Albert 
has  arrived  in  London  and  will  soon  wait  upon  Your 
Majesty,  so  I  hastened  here  to  discuss  certain  details 
of  the  betrothal. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  how  can  you  be  so  blunt!  My  lord,  I  like  and 
admire  my  Cousin  Albert  very  much,  but  I  do  not 
care  to  marry  him. 

MELBOURNE 

(Blandly] 

Your  Majesty  has  not  seen  the  Prince  in  many  years. 
He  has  grown  into  a  man  of  unusual  distinction,  both 
physically  and  mentally.  Indeed,  Baron  Stockmar 
says  that  his  intellect  is  extraordinarily  keen  and  well- 
ordered.  He  is  handsome. 


VICTORIA 

His  letters  are  most  interesting. 

MELBOURNE 

One  cannot  imagine  anyone  more  ideal  for  a  husband. 

VICTORIA 

I  am  quite  happy  as  I  am. 


54  Queen    Victoria 


MELBOURNE 


Pardon,  Your  Majesty.  But  you  must  see  why  it  is 
impossible  for  you  to  remain  as  you  are. 

VICTORIA 

I  have  a  great  repugnance,  my  lord,  to  changing  my 
present  condition. 

MELBOURNE 

(With  some  firmness} 
You  will  have  to  overcome  your  repugnance. 

VICTORIA 

I  think  we  need  not  pursue  the  subject  further.  At 
present  my  feeling  is  quite  against  marrying  anyone. 

MELBOURNE 

In  that  case,  should  anything  happen  to  Your 
Majesty,  your  uncle,  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  now 
King  of  Hanover,  would  succeed  to  the  throne. 

VICTORIA 

Oh  that  would  be  a  calamity !  He  is  dreadful !  Hor 
rible! 

MELBOURNE 

Yet  he  would  be  the  next  King  of  England  unless 
your  Majesty  has  an — unless  there  is  an — er — heir. 


Queen    Victoria  55 

VICTORIA 

(Shocked] 
My  lord! 

(Averting  her  head.    Mumbling} 
An  heir — Cousin  Albert.  .   .  . 

(She  shudders — a  pause} 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty  asked  me  to  be  her  friend. 

VICTORIA 

I  need  you  for  a  friend — now  more  than  ever. 

MELBOURNE 

May  I  say  that  I  comprehend  the  distaste  such  con 
siderations  must  arouse  in  a  young  lady?  Having 
to  mention  them,  let  me  assure  you,  has  required  not 
a  little  effort.  It  is  so  delicate  a  subject  to  touch  on. 
I  understand  your  maidenly  modesty. 

(A  pause} 

But  you  are  the  Queen  of  England,  and  your  duty 
is  two-fold:  You  must  rule  and  you  must  provide  the 
— er — the  next  ruler. 

VICTORIA 

But,  my  lord,  I  feel  I  cannot. 


Queen    Victoria 


MELBOURNE 

Then  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  in  case  of  any  mis 
fortune  to  you 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  no,  no  ...  My  lord,  if  I  should  like  my  Cousin 
Albert  I  can  make  no  final  promise  this  year,  for,  at 
the  'very  earliest  any  such  event  could  not  take  place 
till  two  or  three  years  hence.  Lord  Melbourne,  must 
Albert  come  to-day?  Couldn't  his  visit  be  postponed 
till  some  later  time? 

MELBOURNE 

How  could  it  be?  He  has  probably  already  arrived 
at  the  Palace.  What  excuse  could  we  make? 


VICTORIA 

If  I  were  ill? 

MELBOURNE 

The  Queen  of  England  will  not  stoop  to  subterfuge. 
(A  long  pause} 

VICTORIA 

It  must  be  understood  that  there  is  no  engagement 
between  us. 

MELBOURNE 

Most  certainly. 


Queen    Victoria  57 


VICTORIA 

That  must  be  quite  clear.  For  I  am  very  anxious 
that  whatever  eventuates  I  could  not  be  considered 
guilty  of  any  breach  of  promise,  for  I  never  gave 
any. 

MELBOURNE 

That  is  clearly  understood.  Between  ourselves — 
friends — why  has  Your  Majesty  this  disaffection  for 
marriage? 

VICTORIA 

How  can  I  look  at  him,  knowing  that  I  am  expected 
to — that  he  is  expected  to — that  we 

MELBOURNE 

Young  people  do  look  at  each  other  knowing — er — 

er 

VICTORIA 

Not  for  love  or  marriage,  but  simply  to  provide — 
er — er 

(She  blushes  furiously.  To  relieve  her  em 
barrassment,  MELBOURNE  coughs  and 
averts  his  face.  VICTORIA  is  thus  able  to 
get  control  of  her  maidenly  modesty.  In  a 
small  voice) 

I  am  still  very  young. 

MELBOURNE 

Not  too  young  to  rule  a  great  empire. 


58  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 

Even  a  Queen  may  dream  of  love,  my  lord. 

MELBOURNE 

Oh,  you  have  been  reading  that  persuasive  romancer, 
Walter  Scott. 

VICTORIA 

This  is  no  romantic  idea,  my  lord.  I  am  fully  con 
scious  of  my  responsibilities.  And  that  is  why  I  want 
to  learn  to  be  a  Queen  before  I  learn  to  be  a  mo — 
er — a  wife. 

MELBOURNE 

The  first  lesson  will  be  easy  for  so  apt  a  pupil. 
(A  low  bow} 


VICTORIA 

(Pleased} 


You  flatter,  my  lord. 

MELBOURNE 

And  as  for  the  second — learning  to  be  Albert's  wife 
— I  fancy  when  you  see  him 

VICTORIA 

'(Drawing  herself  up  haughtily.     Already 
she  has  learned  much  about  being  a  Queen} 

The  whole  subject,  my  lord,  is  an  odious  one. 
(STOCKMAR  enters} 


Queen    Victoria  59 


STOCKMAR 

Pardon,   Your   Majesty,    for  thus   intruding.     But 
Prince  Albert  attends. 

(She  becomes  the  flustered  girl  again. 
MELBOURNE  recedes  into  the  background, 
watching  her  anxiously.  He  starts  to  put 
in  a  word  now  and  then,  but  thinks  better 
.  of  it) 

VICTORIA 

Not  yet,  Stockmar.    I  am — I  am  not — ready. 

STOCKMAR 

The  Prince  is  in  the  anteroom. 
VICTORIA 

But  I  can't  see  him  now. 

(LEHZEN  enters) 

STOCKMAR 

The  Prince  would  be  somewhat  hurt  to  be  kept  wait 
ing. 

VICTORIA 

Show  him  over  the   Palace.     I  shall  meet  him  at 
dinner  to-night. 

LEHZEN 

Drina,  it  is  your  duty. 


60  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
I  can't  look  at  him. 

STOCKMAR 

Your  Majesty  is  the  head  of  the  State. 

VICTORIA 

I  shall  abhor  him. 

LEHZEN 

Only  imagination,  my  dear. 

VICTORIA 

How  could  it  be  otherwise  ? 

STOCKMAR 

This  is  an  affair  of  State.  The  Queen  must  consider 
only  her  duty. 

( This  is  spoken  impressively,  and  it  has  its 
effect) 

VICTORIA 

Stay  with  me,  Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

(Relieved  that  the  victory  is  won) 

Now,  my  dear,  you  are  not  going  to  falter  in  your 
duty. 


Queen    Victoria  6 1 


VICTORIA 
What  can  I  say  to  him  ? 

LEHZEN 

He  is  your  cousin.     Receive  him  in  true  cousinly 
fashion. 

VICTORIA 

I  shall  be  so  embarrassed  knowing  that  he  knows  that 
I — that  he — that  we 

LEHZEN 

You  will  be  brave. 

(She  and  STOCKMAR  exeunt.  MELBOURNE 
is  following) 

VICTORIA 

You  will  remain,  Lord  Melbourne. 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty! 

VICTORIA 

Stockmar  said  this  is  an  affair  of  State. 

MELBOURNE 

It  is  a  great  affair  of  State  and  must  therefore  be 
transacted  in  private  behind  guarded  doors. 


62  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 
How  awful !     A  transaction ! 

MELBOURNE 

My  word  was  unfortunate. 

VICTORIA 

You  could  remain  over  there — in  the  shadows. 

MELBOURNE 

That  would  scarcely  be  fair  to  the  Prince. 

VICTORIA 

Think  of  me! 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty  will  have  to  be  alone  with  him  sooner 
or  later. 

VICTORIA 

(Shuddering} 
Oh,  I  do  wish  I  did  not  have  to  see  him  ever. 

(MELBOURNE  goes.  She  is  unpleasantly 
agitated.  Her  face  is  contorted  in  an  ex 
pression  of  repugnance  and  maidenly  ter 
ror.  She  watches  the  door  through  which 
the  guest  is  to  come  with  fascinated  fear. 
It  opens,  ALBERT  enters,  it  closes.  He  is 
twenty;  in  full  uniform.  Looking  beyond 


Queen    Victoria  63 

him  she  draws  herself  up  primly,  with 
dignity.  He  bows  with  stiff,  elaborate 
punctiliousness.  She  extends  her  hand — he 
kisses  it.  A  long  pause} 

We  are  pleased  to  welcome  you. 


ALBERT 

(With  a  heavy  accent) 
Your  Majesty  is  gracious. 

VICTORIA 
I  trust  you  had  a  pleasant  journey. 

ALBERT 

Most  pleasant.     The  landscapes  were  beautiful  in 
their  autumn  colorings. 

VICTORIA 

I  trust  your  parents,  our  aunt  and  uncle,  are  enjoying 
good  health. 

ALBERT 

I  am  happy  to  state  that  they  are  in  excellent  health. 

VICTORIA 

And  our  Uncle  Leopold  of  Belgium? 


64  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

He  is  also  very  well  and  contented. 

(  The  conversation  lags.  The  QUEEN  main 
tains  her  prim  dignity.  The  PRINCE  re 
gards  her  calmly,  penetratingly,  but  she  has 
not  really  looked  at  him.  The  silence  be 
comes  uncomfortable) 

Ah,  Your  Majesty  is  fond  of  the  china  ornaments 
from  Dresden. 

VICTORIA 
They  are  most  pretty. 

(He  goes  to  the  mantel  where  the  orna 
ments  are  not  strictly  aligned.  He  aligns 
them) 

ALBERT 

They  are  subtly  made,  Dresden  china  ornaments.  It 
is  miraculous  how  so  many  can  be  manufactured  and 
yet  the  beauty  of  each  one  be  conserved. 

(She  steals  glances  at  his  back,  and  un 
bends  perceptibly) 

In  the  year  1837, — 5,461  pieces  were  fabricated  in 
Dresden. 

VICTORIA 

Wonderful! 

(She  really  thinks  so) 


Queen    Victoria  65 


ALBERT 

Last  year,  1838,  they  manufactured  6,003  pieces. 

VICTORIA 

How  can  they? 

ALBERT 

German  workmen  perform  miracles. 

VICTORIA 

So  I  have  been  told  many  times. 

ALBERT 

Ah,  this  is  nice. 

(  The  vase) 

VICTORIA 

Do  you  like  it? 

ALBERT 

Very  much.     Very  much,  indeed. 

(She  claps  her  hands  and  bounces  on  her 
chair — a  little  girl  proved  right.  All  stiff 
ness  disappears.  ALBERT  has  justified  her 
and  her  taste.  She  goes  upstage  to  him) 

VICTORIA 

We  seem  to  have  the  same  taste.     I  love  the  clock, 
too. 

(It  is  incredibly  ornate) 


66  Queen    Victoria 

ALBERT 
One  learns  to  love  things  that  are  near. 

(The  conversation  dies  again.  He  places 
the  tongs  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire 
place  from  the  shovel,  comes  down  from 
the  mantel,  and  during  the  next  few 
speeches  places  the  chairs  in  a  stiff  line) 

VICTORIA 

We  go  to  Windsor  to-morrow  for  the  day. 

ALBERT 

That  will  be  most  pleasant. 

(Once  more  the  deadly  silence.  But  she 
has  been  watching  him  ordering  the  chairs 
with  interest — in  him,  not  in  the  chairs) 

VICTORIA 

(Suddenly  the  young  girl) 
This  is  not  at  all  what  I  expected. 

ALBERT 

No? 

VICTORIA 
I  thought  you  would  be — different. 


Queen   Victoria  67 

ALBERT 

(After  all,  he  is  only  twenty} 
I  was  afraid  to  form  a  picture  of  you. 

VICTORIA 

Why? 

ALBERT 

Because  you  were  sure  to  be  unlike  the  picture  ami 
then  I — would  have  to  adjust  myself  to  the  reality. 

VICTORIA 

Are  you  disappointed? 

ALBERT 
(Smiling} 
That  is  a  question  /  should  ask. 

VICTORIA 

It  would  not  be  proper  for  a  young  girl  to  say  what 
she  thinks. 

ALBERT 

So  terrible  as  that! 

VICTORIA 

(Confused} 

Oh,  I  didn't  mean  it  that  way  at  all.  I  meant  to 
say — I  meant  that  a  young  girl  must  never  betray 
her  feelings. 


68  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

But  between  cousins. 

VICTORIA 

We  are  cousins,  but  we  don't  really  know  each  other 
yet. 

ALBERT 

How  could  we?    We  have  met  only  once  before  this. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  that  was  a  fine  visit  you  and  your  brother,  Ernest, 
made  to  us.  How  is  Cousin  Ernest? 

ALBERT 

He  has  developed  rapidly. 

VICTORIA 

We  were  all  mere  children  when  you  were  here  be 
fore.  You  and  Cousin  Ernest  wore  knickerbockers, 
and  I  was  still  in  pinafores. 

ALBERT 

Kensington  Palace  was  so  orderly. 

(He  has  finished  with  the  chairs} 

VICTORIA 

Do  you  remember  what  fun  we  had  sitting  on  the 
sofa,  I  in  the  middle,  between  you  and  Cousin  Ernest, 
looking  through  my  album  ? 


Queen   Victoria  69 


ALBERT 

Oh,  I  shall  never  forget  that  album.    Ernest  and  I 
have  often  spoken  of  it. 


VICTORIA 

It's  grown,  like  you  and  Ernest  and  me.  It  is  no 
longer  an  album — it  is  albums.  Would  you  like  to 
see  the  last  one? 

ALBERT 

Oh,  yes. 

(She  takes  it  from  the  under  shelf  of  the 
table.    He  pushes  a  chair  toward  her) 


VICTORIA 

Oh,  no — on  the  sofa  as  before. 

(He  puts  the  chair  back  on  the  same  spot 
from  which  he  had  moved  it) 

Sit  here  beside  me. 

ALBERT 


Who  is  that? 


VICTORIA 


Madame  de  Spaech.    She  was  one  of  my  governesses. 
She  had  this  miniature  made  just  for  me. 


70  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

Oh,  here  you  are  in  your  coronation  robes.    We  have 
a  picture  like  it  at  home  in  Coburg. 

VICTORIA 
In  oils,  but  this  is  only  watercolors. 

ALBERT 

(As  playful  as  he  can  be) 
You  conferred  it  upon  us. 

VICTORIA 

Where  do  you  keep  it? 

ALBERT 

In  mother's  drawing-room. 

VICTORIA 
(Disappointed} 

Oh.  .  .  .  This  is  the  way  I  really  looked  at  the  time 
of  my  coronation. 

ALBERT 

(Regarding  the  picture  and  then  the  real 
ity) 

You  have  changed. 

VICTORIA 

How? 


Queen    Victoria  71 


ALBERT 

For  the  better — a  thousand  times  better. 

VICTORIA 

(Squeezing  his  hand  impulsively} 

I'm  so  glad  you  think  so.  Look — look  at  this.  You 
and  me — at  Kensington,  when  you  were  here  before. 
Lord  Ashley  drew  it.  Oh,  I'm  so  funny. 

ALBERT 

And  I.     So  stern  and  upright. 

VICTORIA 
You  are  still — severe. 

ALBERT 

(He  is  a  very  young  man} 
Do  I  really  impress  you  as  severe? 

VICTORIA 

O-o-oh,  terribly. 

(They  laugh  heartily.  STOCKMAR  "dis 
covers  them  so.  Delighted,  he  is  slipping 
out  when  ALBERT  espies  him} 


72  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

My  Stockmar! 

(Runs  to  him  and  they  embrace} 

When  am  I  going  to  see  you?  I  must  talk  to  you. 
To-night,  Stockmar? 

STOCKMAR 

The  Queen  has  commanded  a  concert  in  your  honor 
to-night. 

ALBERT 

Then  when  can  I  talk  to  you  alone  ? 

STOCKMAR 

We  will  find  a  time. 

ALBERT 

But  there  are  so  many  things  you  must  advise  me 
about;  so  many  questions  to  ask  you,  such  vital  affairs 
to  discuss  with  you. 

STOCKMAR 

(Pleasantly} 
Will  there  ever  be  time  enough? 

ALBERT 

Never. 


Queen    Victoria  73 


STOCKMAR 


If  Her  Majesty  would  consent  to  dismiss  you  now, 
there  are  a  few  minutes  before  dinner. 

(He  looks  at  VICTORIA.) 


VICTORIA 

Until  to-night,  Cousin  Albert. 

(He  bows  and  goes  out,  his  arm  in  STOCK- 
MAR'S.    The  QUEEN  calls} 

Lehzen!    Lehzen! 

(LEHZEN  enters  Instantly} 
I  will  wear  white  to-night,  Lehzen. 

(The  governess  bows  and  is  about  to  de 
part) 

He  has  a  beautiful  nose  and  eyes,  Lehzen 
(LEHZEN  is  delighted) 

LEHZEN 

(In  going  to  VICTORIA  she  moves  a  chair 
out  of  the  way) 

My  darling.  .  .  . 

VICTORIA 

A  mouth  beautifully  formed. 


74  Queen   Victoria 


LEHZEN 

I  knew  when  you  saw  him 

(She  breaks  off,  not  wishing  to  force  the 
QUEEN'S  mood) 

White,  you  said? 

VICTORIA 
White — all  white — shoes  and  everything. 


LEHZEN 

Like  a  bride. 

VICTORIA 
(A  bashful  girl,  blushing  furiously} 

Oh,  Lehzen ! 

(But  LEHZEN  has  gone.  VICTORIA  goes 
to  the  mantel,  puts  the  vase  in  the  exact 
center,  in  front  of  the  clock.  She  replaces 
the  chair  the  Frdulein  has  moved,  on  the 
exact  spot  ALBERT  chose  for  it.  Then  she 
goes  upstage  and  squints  down  the  line. 
She  moves  the  chair  a  trifle;  squints  down 
her  finger  to  make  sure  it  is  as  ALBERT 
left  it) 

THE  CURTAIN  FALLS 


THIRD  EPISODE 

RECEPTION  ROOM  IN  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE 
OCTOBER   n,    1839 


THIRD  EPISODE 

The  scene  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Second  Epi 
sode. 

It  is  the  evening  of  October  1 1,  1839.  The  double 
doors  on  the  left,  which  remained  closed  during  the 
preceding  episode  except  to  admit  the  FOOTMAN,  are 
thrown  open  as  the  curtain  rises. 

Through  them  may  be  seen  a  dinner  table.  Sitting 
around  it  are  VICTORIA,  ALBERT,  The  DUKE  OF 
WELLINGTON,  The  DUCHESS  OF  KENT,  LORD  PAL- 
MERSTON,  LADY  GAY  HAWTHORN,  WILLIAM  EWART 
GLADSTONE,  FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  and  VISCOUNT 
MELBOURNE.  The  QUEEN  rises;  so  do  the  others. 
The  men  stand  back  to  permit  the  ladies  to  pass  in 
front  of  them  into  the  room  which  is  the  stage.  The^ 
doors  are  closed  behind  the  ladies,  who  enter  in  a 
dignified  procession.  The  QUEEN  sits  bolt  upright. 
The  others  do  likewise.  A  dreadful  ceremonial 
silence. 

DUCHESS 

The  Prince  and  Mr.  Gladstone  were  quite  interested1 
in  each  other. 

LADY   GAY 

(A  flapper  of  her  time} 

They  are  not  unlike. 

77 


78  Queen    Victoria 

(It  is  evident  that  the  type  bores  her.  But 
her  companions  do  not  catch  the  slur  in 
her  words} 

Both  good. 

LEHZEN 

Both  God-fearing,  orderly  and  conscientious. 

VICTORIA 

I  adore  order. 

(She  sighs.     The  others  sigh  in  sympathy} 

LEHZEN 

You  have  known  Mr.  Gladstone  for  some  time,  have 
you  not,  Lady  Gay? 

LADY  GAY 

Oh,  always.  The  Gladstones  and  the  Hawthorns 
have  always  been  neighbors.  I  admire  Mr.  Glad 
stone,  but  I  prefer  men  with  dash.  If  Lord  Pal- 
merston  were  younger! 

LEHZEN 

Mr.  Gladstone  is  much  older  than  you. 

LADY   GAY 

Oh  yes — much.  He  is  thirty  1  In  our  part  of  the 
country  we  think  him  quite  remarkable!  Under 
secretary  for  the  Colonies  at  twenty-six! 


Queen    Victoria 


LEHZEN 

Remarkable.     Quite  remarkable. 

VICTORIA 

(Automatically.    Her  mind  is  with  ALBERT) 
Quite  remarkable. 

LADY   GAY 

He  took  his  seat  in  the  House  at  twenty-four. 

DUCHESS 
Wonderful! 

VICTORIA 

Wonderful. 

(Her  inattention  becomes  apparent.  A 
dull  silence.  The  ladies  look  at  her,  and 
she  is  looking  into  a  dream.  They  fear  to 
interrupt  her  meditation} 

DUCHESS 

(At  length] 
I  think  I  will  have  the  whist  table  made  ready. 

VICTORIA 

(Aroused.     Horrified} 
The  whist  table !     Mamma ! 


8o  Queen    Victoria 


DUCHESS 
Well,  why  not? 

VICTORIA 

It  isn't  proper  to  make  the  whist  table  ready  before 
the  gentlemen  come. 

DUCHESS 

They  will  be  forever  over  their  wine. 

VICTORIA 

There  must  always  be  the  reception  before  whist. 

DUCHESS 
I  do  not  care  to  wait. 

VICTORIA 

But  you  must  wait,  mamma.    It  is  etiquette. 

DUCHESS 

(She  is  a  radical} 
Then  etiquette  should  be  changed. 

VICTORIA 

(She  should  be  shocked,  but  she  isn't) 
I  have  been  considering  that. 


Queen   Victoria  81 


LEHZEN 
My  dear  Drina! 

(Another  silence) 

DUCHESS 

(Ungraciously} 
Would  you  care  to  see  the  Queen's  album? 

LADY   GAY 

Oh,  I  should  be  overwhelmed  by  the  honor. 

(She  is  faintly  ironic,  and  joins  the  DUCH- 
ESS  at  the  table.  VICTORIA  beckons  the 
FRAULEIN  to  her) 

VICTORIA 

( Taking  the  FRAULEIN'S  hand.  In  an  un 
dertone) 

Were  ever  such  delicate  mustachios,  Lehzen? 

LEHZEN 

He  is  beautiful. 

VICTORIA 

How  enchanting  his  slight,  but  very  slight,  whiskers  I 

LEHZEN 

Ah,  my  dear,  I  knew,  once  you  had  set  eyes  upon 


82  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 
(Continuing  her  own  thought) 

Was  there  ever  a  finer  figure!  Broad  and  powerful 
in  the  shoulders,  so  slender  and  lithe  in  the  waist ! 

LEHZEN 

Did  you  notice  how  he  interested  the  table  with  his 
account  of  the  method  employed  in  filing  State  papers 
in  Coburg? 

VICTORIA 

The  most  princely  bearing  in  the  whole  world.  .  .  . 

(Arousing  herself} 
They  are  overlong,  Lehzen. 

LEHZEN 

It  is  but  a  moment  since  we  left  them. 

VICTORIA 
Even  a  moment  is  overlong — tonight. 

LEHZEN 

Ah,  my  dear  Drina,  impatient. 

(She  is  as  waggish  as  she  can  be) 

VICTORIA 

Lady  Gay  Hawthorn  is  genteel. 


Queen    Victoria  83 


LEHZEN 

Oh  very.    And  sprightly  too. 

VICTORIA 

I  think  she  will  make  a  suitable  Lady  of  the  Bed 
chamber. 

LEHZEN 

She  has  good  humor. 

VICTORIA 

I  shall  mention  her  name  to  Lord  Melbourne.    Pray 
ask  him  to  step  here. 

LEHZEN 

The  nomination  can  wait,  Drina. 

VICTORIA 

I  do  not  wish  to  see  him  for  that.     I  desire  the 
gentlemen  to  join  us. 

LEHZEN 

It  is  customary  for  the  gentlemen  to  linger  over 
their  wine. 

VICTORIA 

My  precious  Lehzen,  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  sound  the  bell? 

(FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  obeys  and  returns  to 
her) 


84  Queen    Victoria 


So  vivacious  at  dinner.  Did  you  remark  his  anima 
tion  when  he  was  telling  Lord  Melbourne  the  num 
ber  of  acres  under  cultivation  in  Coburg? 

(The  FOOTMAN  enters} 
Ask  Lord  Melbourne  to  step  here. 
(He  goes  out) 

And  so  amazingly  well  informed!  How  he  aston 
ished  Lord  Palmerston  by  his  knowledge  of  the 
annual  output  of  the  Manchester  mills! 

( VISCOUNT  MELBOURNE  enters) 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty  sent  for  me? 

(She  waves  LEHZEN  away.  The  FRAU- 
LEIN  joins  the  other  two  ladies  at  the  table. 
They  cease  to  look  at  the  album  and  listen 
intently) 

VICTORIA 

We  desire  the  gentlemen  to  attend  us. 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty! 

(He  is  astonished) 

VICTORIA 

Pray,  why  not? 


Queen   Victoria  85 


MELBOURNE 

We  have  scarcely  had  time  to  accustom  ourselves 
to  the  rare  flavor  of  the  port  wine. 

VICTORIA 

(Descending  from  the  lofty  manner  in 
which  she  has  thus  far  addressed  MEL 
BOURNE) 

I  daresay  you  have  all  had  sufficient. 

MELBOURNE 

The  decanters  are  at  least  half  full  yet. 

VICTORIA 
(Impatiently} 

I   consider  heavy   drinking   after   dinner  a   horrid 
custom. 

MELBOURNE 

Nevertheless,  Your  Majesty,  it  is  a  custom. 

VICTORIA 

It  is  a  custom  which  were  better  ended. 

MELBOURNE 

Everywhere  in  the  civilized  world  gentlemen  linger 
over  their  wine  after  dinner. 


86  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

I  daresay. 

MELBOURNE 

It  is  a  convention  as  fixed  as  the  order  in  which  the 
several  courses  are  served. 


VICTORIA 

I  am  well  aware  of  that. 

MELBOURNE 

Then,  Your  Majesty 

VICTORIA  , 

I  won't  permit  it,  Lord  Melbourne.  Especially  not 
tonight. 

MELBOURNE 

Pardon  my  presumption.  But  it  is  necessary  to  re 
mind  Your  Majesty  that  it  is  especially  important 
tonight  that  all  the  conventions  of  social  custom  be 
observed.  The  Prince 

VICTORIA 

The  Prince  without  doubt  is  impatient  to  join  us  here. 

MELBOURNE 

He  is  discussing  with  Mr.  Gladstone 


Queen   Victoria  87 

VICTORIA 
My  lord,  we  desire  the  gentlemen  to  come  to  us. 

(MELBOURNE  hesitates  a  moment,  bows, 
and  goes  back  to  dining  room) 

LADY   GAY 

(Horrified.    Addressing  no  one) 
She  will  make  drunkennesss  unfashionable ! 

(ALBERT  enters,  followed  by  MEL 
BOURNE,  WELLINGTON,  PALMERSTON, 
and  GLADSTONE.  The  latter  is  a  young 
man,  mature  and  staid  and  measured.  The 
FOOTMAN  closes  the  doors  behind  them. 
The  men  form  in  line  to  go  through  the 
reception  ritual;  the  three  ladies  come 
downstage) 

VICTORIA 

Have  you  been  riding  today,  Lord  Melbourne? 

MELBOURNE 

I  took  a  turn  in  the  Park. 

VICTORIA 

It  was  a  fine  day. 

MELBOURNE 

Oh,  a  very  fine  day. 


88  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
A  bit  fresh  as  twilight  approached. 

MELBOURNE 

It  was  somewhat  sharp. 

(A  pause) 
Has  Your  Majesty  been  riding  today? 

VICTORIA 
(With  animation) 
Oh,  yes,  a  very  long  ride  with  Prince  Albert. 

MELBOURNE 

I  hope  the  Prince  was  provided  with  a  good  mount. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  a  very  good  mount. 

(MELBOURNE  stands  a  moment  uncom 
fortably.  The  QUEEN  smiles,  inclines  her 
head,  and  he  passes  on.  WELLINGTON 
comes  next) 

Has  Your  Grace  been  riding  today? 

WELLINGTON 

No,  ma'am,  I  have  not. 


Queen   Victoria  89 

VICTORIA 
It  was  a  fine  day  for  riding. 

WELLINGTON 

Yes,  ma'am,  a  very  fine  day. 

VICTORIA 

It  was  somewhat  damp,  though. 

WELLINGTON 

It  was  rather  damp,  ma'am. 

VICTORIA 

The  Duchess  is  travelling  on  the  Continent,  I  be 
lieve? 

WELLINGTON 

She's  in  Vienna,  now. 

VICTORIA 

The  Duchess  rides,  does  she  not? 

WELLINGTON 

She  does  ride  sometimes,  ma'am. 

VICTORIA 

Has  she  a  nice  horse? 


9O  Queen    Victoria 


WELLINGTON 

A  thoroughbred.    By  Waterdale  out  of  Hester. 

VICTORIA 

(Shocked) 
My  lord! 

WELLINGTON 

Her  mare  is  carrying  a  colt  now,  by  Spitfire. 

VICTORIA 

My  lord,  you  forget  yourself. 

(She  is  'drawn  up  to  her  full  indignant 
height.  The  DUKE  grows  surly.  He 
growls  ) 

WELLINGTON 

Well,  ma'am,  you  asked. 

(She  turns  from  him  pointedly  to  GLAD 
STONE.  WELLINGTON  angrily  stamps  over 
to  the  DUCHESS) 

Damme,  what's  the  harm  in  saying  a  horse  was  born 
and  had  a  sire  and  a  dam  and  is  going  to  have  a 
colt?  They  don't  come  from  heaven  like  angels. 

VICTORIA 

Do  you  ride,  Mr.  Gladstone? 


Queen    Victoria  91 


GLADSTONE 

Very  seldom,  Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

Have  you  been  riding  today? 

GLADSTONE 

Not  today,  Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

It  was  a  fine  day  for  riding. 

GLADSTONE 

A  very  fine  day. 

VICTORIA 

Does  Mrs.  Gladstone  ride? 

GLADSTONE 

About  as  often  as  I  do,  Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 
Did  Mrs.  Gladstone  ride  today? 

GLADSTONE 

I  believe  not. 

(A  pause} 

Has  Your  Majesty  been  riding  today? 


92  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Oh  yes.    A  very  long  ride  with  Prince  Albert. 

GLADSTONE 

Has  Your  Majesty  got  a  nice  horse? 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  a  very  nice  horse. 

(She  smiles,  inclines  her  head,  and  he  is 
free  to  retreat.  It  is  now  PALMERSTON'S 
turn) 

Have  you  been  riding  today,  Lord  Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

I  have  been  occupied  in  the  Committee  on  Indian 
Affairs  today. 

VICTORIA 

You  are  interested  in  Eastern  questions,  my  lord? 

PALMERSTON 

Every  man  in  public  life  must  be.    England's  future 
lies  in  the  East. 

ALBERT 

(Who  throughout  this  scene  has  been  con 
versing  with  FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  nearby) 

England's  future  will  lie  in  England. 


Queen    Victoria  93 


PALMERSTON 

Her  glory,  perhaps.    But  her  commercial  future 

ALBERT 

Even  her  commercial  future  lies  at  home.  In  that 
respect  she  is  unlike  Germany.  My  country,  being 
the  passage  to  the  East,  will  control  the  routes  and 
therefore  the  commerce  of  the  East. 

PALMERSTON 

There  may  be  other  routes. 

ALBERT 

Long  and  perilous. 

PALMERSTON 

Not  for  us.  Englishmen  have  ever  found  the  seas 
safe  and  sure.  We  have  made  them  so. 

ALBERT 

But  all  the  way  around  Africa 

PALMERSTON 

Oh,  we  shall  not  always  have  to  sail  around  Africa 
to  reach  the  Orient  by  water. 

ALBERT 

How  else  will  you  arrive? 


94  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

You   were   saying  you   did   not   ride   today,   Lord 
Palmerston  ? 

PALMERSTON 

(To  ALBERT) 
Narrow  necks  of  land  may  be  cut.    And  will  be. 

VICTORIA 

You  should  have  taken  a  canter  on  such  a  fine  day. 

(ALBERT  gives  up} 
You  do  ride,  don't  you? 

ALBERT 

(Sotto  voce  to  FRAULEIN  LEHZEN) 
I  do  not  trust  that  noble  lord. 

(VICTORIA  has  followed  his  every  move 
ment  with  her  eyes.  But  a  ritual  is  a  ritual, 
and  she  goes  through  with  it  pluckily — 
and  solemnly} 

PALMERSTON 

I  seldom  ride  anything  except  the  perilous  political 
waves  of  Your  Majesty's  government. 

VICTORIA 

How  you  twist  things !    I  was  referring  to  horseback 
riding. 


Queen    Victoria  95 


PALMERSTON 

I  surmised  as  much. 

VICTORIA 

Then  pray,  sir,  why  did  you  not  answer  my  question? 

PALMERSTON 

(With  a  sweeping  bow,  the  Irony  of  which 
entirely  escapes  his  sovereign} 

Because  the  Queen  does  not  require  my  poor  re 
sponses  in  order  to  be  informed. 

VICTORIA 

Law,    sir,    your   courtliness    is    more    French    than 
English. 

PALMERSTON 

And  yet  no  one  in  Your  Majesty's  realm  is  more 
English  than  I. 

VICTORIA 
There  are  those  who  will  not  agree  with  you. 

PALMERSTON 

I  am  the  very  type  of  Englishman. 

VICTORIA 

I  should  like  to  believe  it  so — for  the  sake  of  my 
people. 


g6  Queen    Victoria 

PALMERSTON 

Your  Majesty  is  too  gracious. 

VICTORIA 

But  you  are  above  the  average — far,  far  above. 
Few  have  risen  so  high  as  you. 

PALMERSTON 

In  that  respect  I  am,  perhaps,  exceptional.  But  I 
assure  Your  Majesty  that  in  all  else  I  am  a  thorough 
Englishman. 

VICTORIA 
(Playfully) 
What  is  a  thorough  Englishman,  my  lord? 

PALMERSTON 

One  who  spends  his  'twenties  resisting  temptation 
and  the  rest  of  his  life  regretting  it. 

VICTORIA 

(Shocked) 
My  lord  I 

(She  is  more  than  shocked.  But  the  rest 
of  the  company  is  pleased  with  the  epi 
gram.  They  laugh,  LADY  GAY  somewhat 
too  merrily.  Even  GLADSTONE  smiles,  and 
ALBERT  does  likewise,  until  he  sees  the 


Queen    Victoria  97 


QUEEN'S  expression — then  the  smile  van 
ishes} 

DUCHESS 

You  have  wit,  my  lord. 

LADY  GAY 

Lord  Palmerston  is  the  greatest  epigrammatist  in 
England. 

PALMERSTON 

You  flatter  me,  Lady  Gay.     But  I  happen  to  know 
one  who  is  unrivalled. 

DUCHESS 

Who? 

WELLINGTON 
What's  his  name? 

PALMERSTON 

It's  a  woman. 

LADY   GAY 

A  woman ! 

MELBOURNE 

Who  is  she? 

LEHZEN 

An  Englishwoman? 

(PALMERSTON  nods} 

DUCHESS 
Tell  us  her  name? 


98  Queen    Victoria 

LADY   GAY 

Oh  do,  Lord  Palmerston. 

WELLINGTON 

Out  with  it. 

GLADSTONE 

I  had  thought  English  wit  had  gone  into  a  decline 
since  the  great  Eighteenth  Century. 

PALMERSTON 

Then  you  have  never  heard  of  Lady  Flora  Hastings. 
(General  laughter} 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  you  have  revealed  her  name. 

MELBOURNE 

Trapped. 

WELLINGTON 

You're  not  so  adroit  as  you're  reputed  to  be. 

LADY   GAY 

Is  she  so  clever? 

GLADSTONE 

Lady  Flora  Hastings  is  quite  bright. 


Queen    Victoria  99 


DUCHESS 

I  have  never  found  her  witty. 

PALMERSTON 

Oh,  then  Your  Grace  has  not  heard  what  she  said 
to  the  old  Duke  of  Leicester  last  week. 

VICTORIA 

What  did  she  say? 

LADY   GAY 

Yes,  what,  Lord  Palmerston? 

PALMERSTON 

The  Duke  asked  Lady  Flora  whether  she  would 
prefer  Lord  Burton  or  Sir  Oliver  Randall  as  a  hus 
band,  and  she  responded,  "I  would  prefer  to  be 
married  to  Lord  Burton,  but  in  the  first  year  to 
elope  with  Sir  Oliver." 

( The  company  laughs  heartily.  The 
QUEEN'S  lips  make  a  thin  line,  and  her 
voice  cuts  through  the  merriment  like  an. 
electric  chisel) 

VICTORIA 

We  are  not  amused. 

(A  dull,  dead  silence.  The  transforma 
tion  is  so  sharp  that  the  laughter  remains 
on  the  faces  of  some  of  the  company) 


ioo  Queen   Victoria 


DUCHESS 

(Finally} 
It  is  sultry  tonight. 

(Her  effort  at  bringing  life  back  into  the 
party  fails.  The  silence  continues  for 
another  oppressive  moment) 

I  think  I  will  have  the  whist  tables  made   ready. 
(A  general  sigh  of  relief,  followed  by  chatter) 

MELBOURNE 

I  am  a  poor  player. 

LADY  GAY 
It  is  a  fascinating  game — whist.     So  dashing. 

LEHZEN 

We  play  it  differently  in  Germany. 

GLADSTONE 

One  can  pass  a  pleasant  hour  over  whist. 

WELLINGTON 

Who  will  be  my  partner? 

PALMERSTON 

In  all  the  world  there  is  none  worthy  of  such  an 
honor.     To  be  the  partner  at  whist  of  the  great 


Queen   Victoria  IOI 

Duke  of  Wellington,  the  victor  of  Waterloo,  is 
renown  beyond  dreams  of  renown;  it  ensures  im 
mortality. 

WELLINGTON 

Look  here,  Palmerston,  tone  your  pleasantries 

VICTORIA 

The  man  who  has  saved  Europe  cannot  be  touched 
by  ridicule. 

(Again  the  oppressive  silence} 

DUCHESS 

(She  has  rung;  the  FOOTMAN  opens  the 
rear  doors) 

The  tables  are  ready. 

(They  go  out.  FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  pre 
cedes  ALBERT  and  closes  the  doors  behind 
her  as  he,  uncertain  what  to  do,  has  taken 
a  step  towards  them.  He  comes  slowly 
downstage  to  where  VICTORIA  sits,  watch 
ing  him  out  of  the  corners  of  her  eyes  as 
she  arranges  her  flounces.  She  sits  ex 
pectantly.  As  he  reaches  her,  he  hesitates, 
goes  to  the  windows  and  opens  one: 
slightly) 

ALBERT 

It  is  sehr  schon  tonight. 

VICTORIA 
As  gentle  as  spring. 


IO2  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

It  would  be  most  pleasant  in  the  garden. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  it  would  be  heavenly! 

ALBERT 

If  we  should  take  a  promenade? 

VICTORIA 

I  would  love  to. 

ALBERT 

(With  a  gesture  exaggerated,  as  -playful  as 
it  is  possible  for  him  to  be) 

Then  come. 

VICTORIA 

Do  you  think  it  would  be  quite  proper? 

ALBERT 

Oh,  no.     I  beg  your  pardon. 

(A  pause) 

VICTORIA 

Before  you  came  I  wondered  what  you  were  like, 
Cousin  Albert. 


Queen    Victoria  103 

ALBERT 
Am  I — have  I — disappointed  you  ? 

VICTORIA 

Not  at  all. 

(Feeling  this  insufficient} 
Not  at  all. 

(A  pause) 

It  looks  as  though  Mamma  had  plotted  to  leave  us 
alone  together. 

(A  nervous  laugh) 

ALBERT 

Shall  I  call  them  back  ? 

VICTORIA 

(Amused  at  his  obtuseness  and  not  pleased 
that  he  doesn't  seize  the  opportunity  she 
offers) 

I  am  very  glad  we  are  alone  together,  for  I  think 
we  ought  to  try  to  become  well  acquainted  with  each 
other. 

ALBERT 

Ah,  that  would  be  most  agreeable. 
(Again  a  pause) 

VICTORIA 

(Coyly) 
Perhaps  I,  too,  connived  at  getting  rid  of  our  guests. 


IO4  Queen   Victoria 


ALBERT 
You  wanted  to  be  alone  with  me  I 

VICTORIA 

(She  thinks  that  now  he  is  going  to  do  if. 
A  bit  too  eagerly) 

Yes — oh  yes. 

(He  says  nothing) 
Yes. 

ALBERT 

(Bowing  from  the  hips) 
Gracious  Cousin. 

VICTORIA 
(Irritated) 

That  was  the — er — the  object  of  your  visit. 
(She  is  taken  aback  by  her  own  boldness) 

ALBERT 

I  concurred  heartily  in  the  plan,  for  I  think  members 
of  the  same  family — especially  a  ruling  family — 
should  learn  to  know  each  other. 


Tsct! 


VICTORIA 
(A  click  of  impatience) 


Queen    Victoria  105 

ALBERT 

Pardon? 

VICTORIA 

Nothing. 

(She  reaches  up  to  pat  her  hair,  and  her 
handkerchief  falls  from  her  lap  to  the 
floor.  He  picks  it  up,  and  impetuously 
kisses  the  hand  that  receives  it.  Her  other 
hand  springs  to  touch  his  bowed  head,  but 
she  restrains  it.  Weakly} 

Thank  you. 

(A  moment  he  looks  into  her  eyes.  She 
flutters  breathlessly.  He  turns  sharply  to 
the  mantel,  and  aligns  the  ornaments.  She 
follows  him] 

I  am  so  glad  you  came  to  England. 

ALBERT 

Even  when  you  recall  why  I  was  invited  to  England? 

VICTORIA 

(Feebly) 

Even  then. 

ALBERT 

(Bracing  himself  and  speaking  with  stiff 
formality) 

It  would  confer  the  greatest  honor  upon  me  if  you 
would  consent  to  what  STOCKMAR — I  mean,  our 
ministers,  desire. 


io6  Queen    Victoria 

(Her  head  droops,  her  hands  fold  in  front 
of  her) 

VICTORIA 
It  would  make  me  too  happy. 

(He  is  uncomfortable,  wants  to  embrace 
her,  is  not  sure  it  is  the  proper  thing  to  do. 
Her  head  still  drooping,  she  peeks  up  at 
him,  but  he  does  not  see.  She  is  in  a  com 
pletely  receptive  position) 

ALBERT 

Victoria,  I — I 

VICTORIA 

Yes,  Albert? 

ALBERT 
J J 

(He  gives  up,  and  seeks  refuge  at  the 
piano,  striking  a  tentative  and  tinkly  chord 
or  two,  and  then,  looking  bravely  at  her 
as  he  is  ironically  reenforced  by  that  foe  of 
German  monarchs  who  wrote  the  song,  he 
sings — "Du  Bist  wie  eine  Blume."  In  the 
midst  of  the  song  VICTORIA,  who  has  come 
to  his  side  and  has  been  listening  enrap 
tured  and  trying  to  hum  with  him,  puts  her 
hand  upon  his  shoulder.  He  springs  up 
and  embraces  her,  murmuring) 

My  little  English  mayflower ! 


Queen    Victoria  107 

VICTORIA 

(Her  arms  go  round  him) 
Oh,  Albert,  I  am  quite  unworthy  of  you. 

ALBERT 

I  will  be  very  happy  das  Leben  mil  dir  zu  zubringen. 
VICTORIA 

Oh,  Albert,  before  I  saw  you,  the  very  idea  of  mar 
rying  was  odious  to  me,  and  now  I  am  too  happy. 

(They  kiss.  FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  enters. 
They  separate,  but  she  has  seen  and  is 
overjoyed) 

LEHZEN 

Lord  Palmerston  is  chaffing  the  Duke  again.  You 
had  better  make  peace.  Drina. 

VICTORIA 

Yes — yes.  Oh,  no — I  could  not  reprimand  anybody 
now.  Albert,  my  love,  will  you  reprimand  Lord 
Palmerston?  I  want  to  see  Lord  Melbourne. 

( They  embrace  again,  and  he  follows 
FRAULEIN  LEHZEN  out.  VICTORIA  blows 
kisses  at  the  closed  door.  MELBOURNE 
enters.  She  goes  toward  him  impulsively, 
almost  runs) 

Oh,  Lord  Melbourne,  the  most  enchanting  thing  has 
happened ! 


Io8  Queen    Victoria 

MELBOURNE 

Your  Majesty? 

VICTORIA 

He — Albert — I — we 

MELBOURNE 

( Tenderly ) 
Yes? 

VICTORIA 

We — we — Albert  is  the  most — we  lo- 


(She  cannot  pour  forth  her  ecstasy.     She 
stops.    A  pause) 

MELBOURNE 

You  and  the  Prince? 

VICTORIA 

We — I — he — The  weather  is  quite  damp   for  this 
season  of  the  year. 

MELBOURNE 

Quite. 

VICTORIA 

I  have  recently  had  a  letter  from  Uncle  Leopold 
of  Belgium. 

MELBOURNE 

I  trust  he  is  well. 


Queen    Victoria  109 


VICTORIA 

Quite. 

(Another  pause.  VICTORIA  is  extremely 
elated,  nervous,  excited.  Finally  she  blurts 
out) 

I  have  got  well  through  this  with  Albert. 

MELBOURNE 

(Who  has  known  all  along  what  she 
wanted  to  tell  him} 

Ohl    You  have! 

INTERMISSION 


FOURTH  EPISODE 

RECEPTION  ROOM  IN  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE 
JANUARY,  1854 


FOURTH  EPISODE 

It  is  January,  1854. 

The  room  is  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  episode 
— at  least,  the  walls  and  woodwork  are  the  same;  but 
even  the  Georgian  chimney  piece  and  the  Empire  sofa 
cannot  hold  their  own  against  the  full  weight  of  Vic 
torian  adornment.  Used  now  as  the  royal  office,  the 
chamber  is  dominated  by  two  large  and  ugly  walnut 
writing  tables,  piled  with  documents  in  prim  order. 
There  are  heavy  upholstered  chairs,  mathematically 
arranged.  The  mantel  is  covered  with  a  dark  lambre 
quin,  and  huge  red  tassels  on  twisted  rope  cords  loop 
back  the  ponderous  draperies.  Strangest  'of  all,  a 
vast  wardrobe  of  rosewood  or  walnut  stands  with 
closed  doors  against  the  wall,  quite  overbalancing  a 
delicate  little  relic  of  the  Brothers  Adam  on  the  oppo 
site  side.  But  a  fire  burns  brightly  on  the  hearth, 
and  mitigates  the  ponderous  stolidity  of  the  scene. 

The  stage  is  empty  as  the  curtain  rises,  but  the 
FOOTMAN,  grown  a  trifle  portly  and  pompous,  almost 
immediately  ushers  in  LORD  PALMERSTON,  now 
nearly  seventy,  but  still  straight,  fiery  and  direct, 
though  conspicuously  dyed. 

FOOTMAN 

I  will  inform  Her  Majesty  that  the  Secretary  of  State 
for  Foreign  Affairs  craves  an  audience. 

"3 


114  Queen    Victoria 


PALMERSTON 
Inform  His  Highness  also. 

( The  FOOTMAN  bozus  and  departs,  rear. 
PALMERSTON  gazes  about  the  room,  shrugs. 
He  goes  to  the  desks,  is  offended  by  the 
orderliness  there,  touches  the  documents 
contemptuously,  musses  them  up,  chuckles 
and  rearranges  them.  LADY  GAY  HAW 
THORN — become  Victorian  also — enters') 

LADY  GAY 
Good  morning,  my  lord. 

PALMERSTON 

Ah,  Lady  Gay.     How  do  you  find  life  in  the  royal 
enclosure  today? 

LADY  GAY 

It  never  varies,  my  lord. 

PALMERSTON 

Tied  hand  and  foot  to  the  flaming  chariot,  eh? 

LADY  GAY 

Flaming  is  scarcely  the  word  to  describe  this  court. 

( They  laugh.  LADY  GAY  becomes  grave 
to  deliver  her  message) 


Queen    Victoria  115 

Their  Majesties,  my  lord,  are  occupied  with  the  royal 
children,  as  is  their  wont.  At  ten  o'clock,  as  is  their 
custom,  their  Majesties  will  enter  their  bureau.  All 
audiences  must  be  after  that  hour.  It  now  lacks  five 
minutes  of  ten  o'clock.  Furthermore,  Her  Majesty 
demands  to  know  on  whose  responsibility  Lord  Pal- 
merston  presumes  to  arrive  at  the  Palace  without 
having  been  summoned. 


On  my  responsibility. 

LADY  GAY 

There !    My  message  is  delivered. 

(She  laughs,  he  laughs} 

PALMERSTON 

Occupied  with  the  royal  children,  eh? 

LADY  GAY 

She  calls  them  her  little  love  pledges. 

PALMERSTON 

Shades  of  St.  Valentine!     What  does  he  call  them? 
Whatever  she  tells  him  to,  I  suppose. 

LADY  GAY 

No.    The  Prince  Consort  is  a  very  strong  character. 


Il6  Queen    Victoria 

PALMERSTON 

Doubtless. 

LADY  GAY 
Thought  he  rdoes  resemble  a  foreign  tenor. 

PALMERSTON 
(Shrugs] 

The  Prince  is  a  foreigner  who  suffers  from  having 
no  vices. 

LADY  GAY 

He  suffers  from  something  else,  besides. 

PALMERSTON 

Stockmar? 

(She  nods} 

LADY  GAY 

What  can  you  expect?  His  heart  is  in  Germany.  He 
dreams  always  of  Germany — a  Germany  unified 
under  Prussian  leadership. 

PALMERSTON 

Prussia  is  the  adolescent  among  the  nations.  Gauche 
and  raucous  and  pimpled.  A  clumsy  Machiavelli. 

LADY  GAY 

Stockmar  is  always  near  him. 


Queen    Victoria  117 


PALMERSTON 
(Heatedly] 

Yes,  and  it  is  Stockmar  who  has  given  him  the  idea 
that  as  Prince  Consort  he,  through  the  Queen,  should 
dominate  the  Government.  Well,  we'll  see  about 
that.  The  British  Government  controlled  by  a 
foreigner  whose  sole  interest  is  in  Germany  and  the 
future  greatness  of  Prussia!  We'll  see  about  that. 
We'll  see  about  that 

(He  strides  about,  much  agitated.     He  is 
showing  his  age) 


There  s  no  danger,  because  the  Queen 


PALMERSTON 

They  are  trying  to  get  rid  of  me — she,  as  well  as 
her  German  consort  and  god,  and  his  mentor.  But 
the  choice  lies  with  me,  not  with  them.  It  has  been 
made  already. 

LADY  GAY 

I'm  sure  the  Queen  has  no  desire 

PALMERSTON 

Oh,  yes,  she  has.  A  very  strong  desire  to  get  rid  of 
me.  Because  I  dare  to  disagree  with  her  beloved. 
But  I  can  do  as  I  wish,  because  the  British  people 
are  fond  of  me. 


Ii8  Queen    Victoria 


LADY  GAY 

They  are  fond  of  the  Prince,  too. 

* 

PALMERSTON 

In  a  way. 

LADY  GAY 

Since  the  magnificent  success  of  the  Great  Exhibition, 
his  popularity  surpasses  even  that  of  Her  Majesty. 

PALMERSTON 

But  he  isn't  one  of  them.    He  is  a  foreigner  to  them. 

LADY  GAY 
However  that  may  be,  to  the  Queen  he  is  everything. 

( The  ROYAL  PAIR  enter.  They  are  about 
thirty-five'  years  old.  They  come  in  holding 
hands  and  smiling  at  each  other,  but  as 
soon  as  they  espy  PALMERSTON  their  faces 
freeze.  ALBERT  nods  curtly  and,  seating 
himself  at  his  table,  becomes  immersed  in 
his  documents.  VICTORIA  is  unable  to  con 
ceal  her  hostility  so  well.  LADY  GAY 
'departs  ) 

VICTORIA 

(Acknowledging  his  bow} 
My  lord. 

(Bristling] 


Queen    Victoria  119 

We  do  not  grant  audiences  before  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning 

PALMERSTON 

(With  great  respect] 

Lady  Gay  Hawthorn  has  reminded  me  of  my  error. 

VICTORIA 

A  member  of  our — my — Government  should  know 
such  things. 

PALMERSTON 

I  did,  but  an  important  affair  of  State 


VICTORIA 

The  will  of  the  sovereign  transcends  all  other  affairs 
of  State. 

PALMERSTON 

That   is   a   view  which   the   English  people   would 
scarcely  concur  in. 

(Pointedly] 

It  is  cherished,  I  believe,  in  Prussia. 

(ALBERT  glances  at  him,  frowns  and  re 
sumes  his  work] 

VICTORIA 

Buckingham  Palace  is  not  a  public  house,  that  anyone 
may  enter  as  the  whim  directs. 


I2O  Queen    Victoria 


PALMERSTON 


Her  Majesty  will  perhaps  grant  that  the  Secretary 
of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs  has  privileges  not  granted 
to  the  majority  of  her  subjects. 


VICTORIA 

To  the  Sovereign  there  are  no  privileged  persons 
among  her  subjects. 

PALMERSTON 

(Giving  up} 

I  am  come  to  inform  Your  Majesty  that  our  relations 
with  Russia  are  strained. 

VICTORIA 

With  Russia! 

(P 'aimer ston  bows) 

Oh,  it  mustn't  be. 

PALMERSTON 

I  fear,  ma'am,  that  it  is. 

VICTORIA 

It  can't  be. 

ALBERT 

Why  not,  my  love  ? 


Queen    Victoria  121 


VICTORIA 


I  was  christened  Alexandrina  Victoria    Alexandrina 
after  the  Czar  Alexander  of  Russia  ! 


PALMERSTON 

Nevertheless,  our  relations  with  Russia  are  critical. 

VICTORIA 

Why,  sir,  have  I  not  been  informed  of  the  state  of 
affairs  before  our  relations  with  Russia  became 
critical  ? 

PALMERSTON 

I  am  come  to  beg  your  Majesty  to  indite  an  amicable 
letter  to  His  Majesty  of  France.  We  shall  require 
his  aid. 

VICTORIA 

(Tartly] 

Such  a  request  should  come  from  Lord  Aberdeen, 
my  Prime  Minister.  Why  have  he  and  you  not  made 
me  completely  cognizant  of  all  the  details  of  the 
negotiations  as  they  occurred? 

PALMERSTON 

They  have  been  extremely  delicate. 


122  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

No  matter  how  delicate,  each  step  should  have  been 
submitted  to  us — to  me  before  it  was  taken. 

PALMERSTON 

(With  great  deference,  but  firmly} 
The  affairs  of  Government,  Your  Majesty,  are  the 
affair  of  the  Government. 

(That  is  not  STOCKMAR'S  view,  not  AL 
BERT'S) 

VICTORIA 

As  a  result  of  your  management  of  our  affairs,  Eng 
land  faces  disaster. 

PALMERSTON 

England  is  strong  enough  to  brave  consequences. 

VICTORIA 

You  have  deliberately  kept  me  uninformed  of  the 
negotiations  with  Russia. 

PALMERSTON 

The  necessities  of  diplomacy 


VICTORIA 


The   Queen   of   England   wil    not   submit   to    such 
trickery. 

'( The  word  bites} 


Queen    Victoria  123 


PALMERSTON 

Am  I  to  understand  that  I  no  longer  enjoy  Your 
Majesty's  confidence? 

(She  draws  herself  up  and  nods} 

Then — I  am  perforce  compelled  to  resign  as  a  mem 
ber  of  Your  Majesty's  Government. 

(He  waits,  but  she  says  nothing.  He  bows 
and  goes  out.  ALBERT  has  long  since 
stopped  trying  to  conceal  his  attention  to 
the  conversation.  As  soon  as  the  door 
closes  behind  PALMERSTON,  he  shows  agita 
tion] 

ALBERT 

My  beloved 

VICTORIA 

A  good  riddance. 

ALBERT 

[You  should  never  have  done  such  a  thing. 

VICTORIA 

I  am  most  pleased  with  the  outcome. 

ALBERT 

But  it  is  indiscreet. 

VICTORIA 

The  Sovereign  is  above  indiscretion. 


124  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

Ill-advised. 

VICTORIA 

Not  at  all,  not  at  all. 

ALBERT 

It  may  cause  the  fall  of  Lord  Aberdeen's  Govern 
ment. 

VICTORIA 
If  Lord  Aberdeen's  Government  is  so  weak 


ALBERT 

But  this  Palmerston  is  highly  regarded  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  and  among  the  populace  he  is  greatly 
loved. 

VICTORIA 

So  are  we,  my  love. 

ALBERT 

But  to  accept  the  resignation  of  a  minister  of  State 
without  careful  consideration ! 

VICTORIA 

He  wishes  to  treat  me  like  a  woman,  but  I  will  show 
him  that  I  am  Queen  of  England. 

ALBERT 

The  Queen,  above  all  others,  should  do  nothing  with 
out  due  deliberation  and  the  proper  formalities. 


Queen    Victoria  125 


VICTORIA 
Well,  it  is  done  now,  dearest. 

ALBERT 

It  is  certain  to  cause  difficulties. 
VICTORIA 

Undoubtedly. 

ALBERT 
Summon  him  back,  my  love. 

VICTORIA 
Oh,  I  could  never  do  that. 

ALBERT 

A  kind  word  from  you,  and  he  would  withdraw  his 
resignation. 

VICTORIA 

But  I  don't  wish  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  my 
heart. 

ALBERT 

I  am  much  disturbed. 

VICTORIA 
It  is  done  now. 


126  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 
It  is  so  ill-considered — so  hastily  done. 

VICTORIA 

Are  you  not  taking  this  too  seriously,  my  darling? 

ALBERT 
It  is  serious.     Sehr,  sehr. 

VICTORIA 

What  would  you  have  me  do  ? 

ALBERT 

Send  for  him. 

VICTORIA 

I  cannot  consent  to  humiliate  myself. 

ALBERT 

There  is  no  humiliation  in  doing  what  is  best  for  the 
country. 

VICTORIA 

It  is  best  for  the  country  that  the  Sovereign  shall  be 
firm.  And  it  is  not  best  for  the  country  to  have  such 
a  one  in  office. 

ALBERT 

He  is  very  powerful. 


Queen    Victoria  127 


VICTORIA 

So  are  we  I 

ALBERT 

But  he,  being  out  of  office,  will  have  the  public  sym 
pathy.  They  will  feel  you  have  been  the  aggressor, 
my  heart. 

VICTORIA 

The  Sovereign  is  above  caring  what  the  populace 
thinks  so  long  as  she  knows  she  is  performing  her 
duty. 

ALBERT 

But  you  will  be  blamed,  my  love. 

VICTORIA 
We  are  above  both  popularity  and  blame. 

ALBERT 

If  there  is  a  Government  crisis  at  this  moment  when 
our  relations  with  Russia  are  critical,  it  might  pre 
cipitate  a  war  that  could  be  prevented. 

VICTORIA 

(Thoroughly  frightened} 
Oh! 

(They  gaze  at  each  other,  she  horrified. 
But  as  she  looks   at  him   her  expression 


128  Queen    Victoria 


changes,  and  all  the  horror  has  gone  from 
her  'voice  when  she  speaks  again;  there  is 
•   grave  concern  in  it) 

Oh,  my  darling! 

ALBERT 

(Startled) 
Was  ist? 

VICTORIA 
There's  a — a  grey  hair  in  your  beard! 

(His  hand  instinctively  flies  to  his  chin) 

Not  there,  dearest.  To  the  right.  Here.  Not  one 
— three ! 

ALBERT 

My  heart,  the  moment  is  serious.  We  cannot  think 
of  hair. 

VICTORIA 

Three  grey  hairs  in  your  beard,  my  precious,  is  more 
serious  than  all  else  in  the  world.  Still,  we  are  thirty- 
five.  .  .  .  But  I  wish — Dearest. 

ALBERT 

Eh? 

VICTORIA 

See  if  I  have  any  grey  hairs. 

ALBERT 

Liebes  Frauchen! 

(She  amuses  him) 


Queen   Victoria  129 


VICTORIA 
Please  look. 

(She  bends  her  head;  he  regards  it  closely} 


•      ALBERT 
Not  one,  my  heart. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  I  wish  there  were  three  grey  hairs.  You  must 
not  outstrip  me.  I  dream  of  us  growing  old  together, 
quietly,  holding  hands,  and  loving  each  other  more 
and  more  all  the  time,  if  it  were  possible  to  love  more 
than  we  do  now.  .  .  . 

(She  sighs  sentimentally} 


ALBERT 

Liebschen,  you  must  make  a  memorandum  of  your 
tilt  with  Lord  Palmerston. 


VICTORIA 

(Still  in  her  sentimental  mood) 

When  I  am  with  you,  I  cannot  bear  to  bother  my 
head  with  anything  so  dull  as  politics. 

(He    touches    her    cheek    fondly,    which 
throws  her  into  ecstasy) 


130  Queen   Victoria 


ALBERT 
(Gently} 
The  duty  of  a  sovereign,  my  love. 

(ALBERT,  when  VICTORIA  is  seated  at  her 
table,  goes  to  the  great  wardrobe  and 
opens  the  doors,  disclosing  it  to  be  an  im 
provised  filing  cabinet  most  neatly  and 
,  ingeniously  pigeonholed  and  labelled — 
doubtless  a  thrifty  invention  of  his  own — 
and  extracting  a  document  from  compart 
ment  R,  returns  to  his  table  and  studies  it. 
VICTORIA,  meanwhile,  writes  a  line, 
scratches  it  out,  tries  again  with  no  better 
success,  bites  her  penholder.) 

VICTORIA 

(In  a  wee  voice) 
Albert. 

ALBERT 
Eh? 

VICTORIA 
How  shall  I  write  it? 

ALBERT 

Exactly  as  it  happened. 

VICTORIA 

I  can  never  remember  details. 


Queen   Victoria  131 

ALBERT 
(Resigned — dictates.    She  writes  rapidly) 

"Lord  Palmerston  insinuated  himself  into  the  royal 
bureau  before  the  hour  when  Her  Majesty  grants 
audience.  When  Her  Majesty  reproached  him  for 
the  intrusion,  he  used  as  an  excuse  that  the  state  of 
the  relations  between  England  and  Russia  were 
critical.  Her  Majesty  demanded  to  know  why  she 
had  been  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  state  of  affairs, 
and  why  she  was  not  consulted  about  every  step  before 
it  was  taken.  Lord  Palmerston " 

(She  looks  up,  leans  over  and  brushes  his 
coat  collar.  He  stiffens  and  she  returns  to 
her  task) 

"Lord  Palmerston  evaded." 

VICTORIA 
Dearest,  is  there  an  i  in  evaded? 

ALBERT 

No.     E-v-a-d-e-d.     "Lord  Palmerston  evaded " 


VICTORIA 

(Writing] 
a-d-e-d. 

ALBERT 

"Her  Majesty  reproved  him.    Whereupon  the  Secre 
tary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  seeing  that  he  had 


132  Queen    Victoria 


forfeited  his  Sovereign's  confidence,  resigned.  The 
Queen  accepted  his  resignation."  Date  it. 

VICTORIA 

1-8-5-3.  No.  4.  I  always  do  that  in  January — for 
get  that  another  year  has  passed.  What  date  is  it? 
January 

(She  consults  a  calendar  and  writes  the 
date} 

There!    Where  should  I  file  it? 

ALBERT 

Third  from  the  left— "Foreign  Office." 

(She   puts    the   folded   document   in    the 
pigeonhole  indicated) 

Have  you  examined  the  papers  relative  to  the 
Spanish  misunderstanding? 

VICTORIA 

Yes. 

ALBERT 

You  had  better  write  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III  the 
stand  you  intend  to  take  in  the  matter. 

VICTORIA 

Yes. 

(He  returns  to  his  own  papers.     After  a 
moment} 

What  stand  shall  I  take  ?  I  mean  what  stand  do  you 
think  it  advisable  to  take? 


Queen    Victoria  133 


ALBERT 
Why,  just  tell  him 

VICTORIA 

I  wonder  if  there  are  any  grey  hairs  in  your  head. 

(She  rises  to  find  out,  holding  his  face 
against  her  as  she  rummages  through  the 
hair  and  then  smooths  it  out  again} 

No — none. 

ALBERT 
(Released,  he  is  able  to  speak  again) 

Dearest,  really! 

VICTORIA 

It  just  occurred  to  me  that  maybe 


ALBERT 

(Sternly) 
Let's  get  on  with  our  labors. 

(A  few  moments  during  which  he  is  busy 
reading  a  document  and  making  notes.  She 
tries  to  write  the  letter  to  Napoleon,  but 
is  stumped  and  bites  her  penholder,  her 
finger  nails.  .  .  .  She  glances  at  him  fur 
tively  the  while) 


Albert. 


VICTORIA 

(In  a  wee  voice) 


134  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 
Yes,  my  heart. 

VICTORIA 

There  is  something  I  have  wished  to  speak  to  you 
about  for  some  time. 

ALBERT 

What  is  it,  my  love? 

VICTORIA 
It's  about  Bertie.     I  am  very  concerned  about  him. 

ALBERT 

What  has  he  done  ? 

VICTORIA 
He  shows  no  aptitude  in  his  books. 

ALBERT 

(Laying  aside  his  papers) 
I  have  noticed  that  too. 

VICTORIA 
I  am  much  distressed. 

ALBERT 

He  is  still  a  mere  boy. 

VICTORIA 
But  he  is  also  the  Prince  of  Wales. 


Queen    Victoria  135 


ALBERT 
(Indulgently) 
Yes,  but  a  boy  first.    A  vigorous,  healthy  boy,  too. 

VICTORIA 

You  are  so  patient  and  painstaking  with  him — you 
even  supervise  his  games. 

ALBERT 

That  is  part  of  the  duty  of  a  father. 

VICTORIA 

I  pray  always  most  fervently  that  Bertie  will  grow 
up  to  resemble  his  dearest  father  in  every,  every 
respect,  both  in  body  and  mind. 

ALBERT 

(Pleased  but  embarrassed) 

Oh,  my  darling. 

VICTORIA 

But  he  seems  wilful  and  perverse  and  selfish 

ALBERT 
A  little  wilful,  perhaps. 

VICTORIA 
Whereas  you  are  the  very  embodiment  of  abnegation. 


136  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 


Really,  Victoria,  you  must  not  say  such  things.    You 
must  learn  to  see  me  without  prejudice. 


VICTORIA 


Wasn't  it  the  most  unselfish  abnegation  when  you 
gave  up  double  chess  after  dinner  in  order  to  spend 
the  evenings  spinning  counters  and  rings  with  me? 
Oh,  it  is  such  fun. 

ALBERT 

If  we  were  to  invite  scientists  and  men  of  letters  to 
the  Palace,  it  would  benefit  Bertie  greatly  to  come 
in  contact  with  them. 

VICTORIA 

I'm  sure  Bertie  has  the  opportunity  to  meet  the  veryt 
best,  people. 

ALBERT 

Yes,  but  I  mean  distinguished  men. 

VICTORIA 

Statesmen  are  certainly  distinguished. 

ALBERT 

They  are  prominent,  but  they  are  not  creative.  They 
do  not  advance  knowledge. 


Queen    Victoria  137 

VICTORIA 

What  should  we  do  without  them? 

ALBERT 

They  are  quite  necessary — quite.  But  Bertie  could 
profit  from  encountering  other  kinds  of  people — 
people  who  are  advancing  knowledge  and  art. 

VICTORIA 

Art  is  so  frequently  improper,  though,  fortunately, 
not  so  improper  in  England  as  elsewhere. 

ALBERT 

If  Bertie  could  meet  philosophers  and  scientists 


VICTORIA 


But,  dearest,  he  meets  all  the  best  people,  and  they 
are  well  known,  too. 


ALBERT 


They  are  not  necessarily  anything  in  themselves.  I 
was  thinking  that  we  might  invite  Mr.  Darwin.  I 
have  read  some  papers  of  his  in  a  scientific  periodical. 


VICTORIA 


Oh,  he  has  the  most  horrid  and  distasteful  ideas. 
Lord  Aberdeen  essayed  to  explain  them  to  me,  but 
I  found  them  so  sickening  that  I  would  not  allow 
him  to  continue. 


138  Queen    Victoria 

ALBERT 

If  you  had  permitted  him  to  explain  Mr.  Darwin's 
theory  in  full 

VICTORIA 
It  savored  of  sacrilege. 

ALBERT 

Science  is  not  pretty,  my  dearest,  but  it  is  the  only 
sane  revolutionary  force  in  the  world. 

VICTORIA 

(Covering  her  ears) 
I  can't  abide  that  odious  word. 

ALBERT 

Why  is  it  odious? 

VICTORIA 
It  means  violence. 

ALBERT 
Not  in  science,  my  heart. 

VICTORIA 

Well,  anyway,  it  signifies  change,  and  I  abominate 
change. 

(But  she — her  manner  changes   and  her 

voice  changes  also) 


Queen    Victoria  139 

I  want  us  to  stay  just  as  we  are — you  and  I  and  our 
little  love  pledges,  forever  and  ever.  .  .  . 


ALBERT 

Even  Bertie? 

VICTORIA 
We  must  do  something  about  him. 

ALBERT 

Suppose  we  draw  up  a  memorandum? 

VICTORIA 

(Delighted,  not  only  with  the  idea  as  a 
solution,  but  with  the  genius  that  produced 
the  idea} 

That's  it — that's  exactly  what  he  needs.  What  shall 
we  say? 

ALBERT 

Let  me  think.  .  .  . 

VICTORIA 

I'll  write  and  you  dictate. 

ALBERT 

"Life  is  composed  of  duties,  and  in  the  due,  punctual 
and  cheerful  performance  of  them  the  true  Christian, 
true  soldier  and  true  gentleman  is  recognized." 


140  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
How  nobly  you  phrase  it,  my  love ! 

ALBERT 

It  might  be  well  to  remind  his  tutors  of  their  respon 
sibility. 

VICTORIA 
We'll  write  a  memorandum  for  them,  also. 

ALBERT 

(Dictating} 

"For  the  guidance  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  to 
attend  on  the  Prince  of  Wales."  Mark  it  "confiden 
tial,"  my  love. 

VICTORIA 

Let  us  say  first  of  all  that  the  gentlemen  should  al 
ways  bear  in  mind  that  the  great  object  in  the  educa 
tion  of  the  Prince  is  that  he  shall  become  a  benevolent 
sovereign,  beloved  of  all  the  world  as  his  father  is. 

(She  has  picked  up  the  framed  likeness  of 
ALBERT  which  stands  on  her  table  and 
gazes  at  it  adoringly.  A  slight  murmur  in 
the  distance  which  has  been  evident  for 
some  time  now  becomes  the  angry  yell  of 
a  mob  that  breaks  into  a  song,  muffled  by 
distance  and  the  closed  windows} 

What  is  that? 


Queen    Victoria  141 


ALBERT 

A  great  many  voices. 

VICTORIA 

Singing. 

ALBERT 

But  shrilly. 

VICTORIA 

(Rising  to  go  to  the  bell-rope} 
What  celebration  can  it  be? 

(STOCKMAR  enters,  excited,  perturbed.  His 
hair  is  disordered} 

ALBERT 

Stockmar ! 

STOCKMAR 

Pardon  my  informality 


VICTORIA 

You  are  pale.    Something  has  happened ! 

STOCKMAR 

Palmerston  has  resigned ! 

VICTORIA 

(Pleased  with  herself} 
On  my  demand. 


142  Queen    Victoria 


STOCKMAR 
The  people  are  enraged. 

VICTORIA 

(Still  not  disturbed) 
Why  should  they  be? 

STOCKMAR 

It  was  announced  in  the  city.  The  manifesto  read: 
"The  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs  has  been 
compelled  to  relinquish  his  place  in  the  Government 
of  Lord  Aberdeen  on  the  demand  of  Her  Majesty 
and  Her  Majesty's  foreign  Consort." 

VICTORIA 
(Furious} 

The — the — "Foreign  Consort"  ! — this  is  more  trick 
ery.  I  will  not  submit 


STOCKMAR 

They  are  not  angered  at  Your  Majesty. 

ALBERT 

At  me? 

STOCKMAR 

They  accuse  you  of  being  an  enemy  of  England,  of 
favoring  Russia  in  the  interest  of  Germany. 


Queen    Victoria  143 


VICTORIA 

They  dare ! 

ALBERT 

How  can  they! 

STOCKMAR 

To  the  British  people  you  are  always  a  foreigner,  my 
son. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  the  ingrates!  He  who  gave  them  the  beautiful 
Crystal  Palace  and  the  Great  Exhibition !  He  who 
slaves  early  and  late  in  their  interest  and  has  grey 
hair  in  his  beard  at  thirty-five !  He,  the  husband  of 
the  Queen  of  England  and  the  father  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  their  future  sovereign!  He  an  enemy  of 
England !  He  favoring  Russia  against  England !  He 
a  foreigner! 

ALBERT 

(In  complete  control  of  himself} 
What  is  that  song  they  are  singing? 

STOCKMAR 

Some  improvisation. 

(VICTORIA  throws  up  a  window  to  shake 
her  fist  at  the  mob,  and  the  words  "little 
Al"  are  shouted.  She  bangs  the  window 
down  again} 


144  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 
I  will  not  endure  it.     I  myself  will  go  out. 

STOCKMAR 

Your  Majesty 

ALBERT 

Drina ! 

VICTORIA 

Please  do  not  detain  me,  my  love.  I  mean  to  tell 
them  what  the  Queen  thinks  of  her  subjects.  They 
shall  beg  your  pardon  on  their  knees. 

ALBERT 

My  love,  you  must  not. 

VICTORIA 
It  is  I  who  am  being  insulted. 

ALBERT 

My  heart,  I  implore  you. 

VICTORIA 

Let  me  go,  Albert,  let  me  go. 

(She  breaks  free  of  his  embrace  and  rushes 
for  the  door  right.  Before  she  reaches  it, 
it  opens  and  LADY  GAY,  tremulous,  breath 
less,  pale,  enters.  She  carries  a  torn  and 


Queen   Victoria  145 


crumpled  bunch  of  leaflets,  but  observing 
the  QUEEN'S  agitation  and  surmising  the 
cause  of  it,  she  hurriedly  puts  them  behind 
her] 

LADY  GAY 

You've  heard? 

VICTORIA 

Let  me  pass,  Gay. 

ALBERT 

What  are  they  singing? 

LADY  GAY 

Oh,  a  terrible  thing. 

VICTORIA 

Kindly  step  aside. 

(Her  voice  is  shrill} 

ALBERT 

What  is  the  song? 

(Pie  hopes  to  divert  VICTORIA) 

VICTORIA 

Kindly  step  aside. 

(She  shoves  LADY  GAY,  who  had  no  inten 
tion  of  blocking  the  way,  but  being  fright 
ened  and  dazed  had  merely  been  unable  to 


146  Queen    Victoria 


know  what  was  demanded  of  her.  As  VIC 
TORIA  pushes  her,  the  leaflets  flutter  to  the 
floor.  They  all  stand  and  look  at  them, 
no  one  having  the  courage  to  pick  them  up) 

ALBERT 

(Huskily) 
The  song? 

(LADY  GAY  nods.    A  long  silence) 
What  are  the  words,  Stockmar? 

(STOCKMAR  picks  up  a  leaflet,  glances  at 
it,  then  at  ALBERT  in  distress.  The  two 
men  regard  each  other  fixedly) 

VICTORIA 

Read  it,  Stockmar. 

(Her  fury  has  resolved  into  a  cold  anger 
not  unmixed  with  tremulousness.  STOCK- 
MAR  continues  to  regard  ALBERT,  who 
nods) 

STOCKMAR 

"The  Turkish  War  both  near  and  far, 
Has  played  the  very  deuce,  then, 
And  little  Al,  the  royal  pal, 

VICTORIA 
Oh!   The 

(ALBERT  takes  her  hand  and  thus  silences 
her.  She  nods  again  to  STOCKMAR) 


Queen   Victoria  147 


STOCKMAR 


"They  say  has  turned  a  Russian; 
Old  Aberdeen,  as  may  be  seen, 
Looks  woeful  pale  and  yellow, 
And  old  John  Bull  has  his  belly  full 
Of  dirty  Russian  tallow. 


VICTORIA 

Oh,  the  unspeakable  vulgarity! 

(ALBERT'S  arm  goes  round  her  waist} 

ALBERT 

Go  on,  Baron. 

STOCKMAR 

"We'll  send  him  home  and  make  him  groan, 
Oh,  Al !    You've  played  the  deuce  then, 
The  German  lad  has  acted  sad, 
And  turned  tail  with  the  Russians. 

VICTORIA 

(Breaking  away  from  ALBERT) 

The  guard — order  out  the  guard.    Have  them  shot 
— every  one  of  them — traitors — traitors 

ALBERT 

Sh— sh. 


148  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

It  is  lese  majesty.  They  shall  be  shot — every  last 
one  of  them. 

ALBERT 

My  dearest  heart,  let  us  hear  it  all. 

(He  nods  to  STOCKMAR) 

STOCKMAR 

"Last  Monday  night  all  in  a  fright, 
Al  out  of  bed  did  tumble, 
The  German  lad  was  raving  mad, 
How  he  did  groan  and  grumble ! 
He  cried  to  Vic,  'I've  cut  my  stick; 
To  St.  Petersburg  go  right  slap !' 
When  Vic,  'tis  said,  jumped  out  of  bed, 
And  wopped  him  with  her  nightcap." 

(Silence.  They  gaze  at  the  leaflets,  then 
at  each  other.  Finally  VICTORIA  and  AL 
BERT  look  at  each  other.  He  is  more  sor 
rowful  than  angry} 

VICTORIA 

(Grinding  the  leaflets  into  the  floor  under 
her  heels} 

Beasts,  ingrates,  traducers,  vile  menials !  They  shall 
suffer  for  this.  Palmerston  shall  suffer.  He  the 
most  of  all — he  is  the  most  dastardly  betrayer  the 
world  has  ever  known — Judas — Judas — the  greatest 


Queen    Victoria  149 

slanderer  that  ever  lived.  But  he  will  find  out.  As 
sure  as  I  am  Queen  of  England,  I  will  have  revenge 
on  him.  Palmerston  shall  crawl  before  us,  crawl 
and  beg  and  kiss  the  ground.  He  and  his  mer 
cenaries.  England,  too,  all  the  people  of  England, 
of  the  whole  world — they  shall  kneel  before  us  and 
implore  our  forgiveness.  Every  tongue  that  uttered 
those  words  shall  be  cut  out.  Cut  out,  I  say — I,  the 
Queen  of  England !  And  Palmerston,  I'll — I'll 

(Her  imagination  is  not  equal  to  her  fury. 
She  flies  across  the  room  and  jerks  the  bell- 
rope  wildly] 

I'll  show  them  who  is  the  traitor.  And  they  shall 
learn  how  traitors  can  suffer.  The  Queen  of  Eng 
land  is  not  insulted  with  impunity. 

'  (The  FOOTMAN  enters} 

Order  out  the  guard.  Command  it  to  disperse  that 
yelling  mob  at  all  costs,  at  all  hazards,  in  any  manner 
necessary,  violence  if  need  be. 

(He  waits} 
Make  haste. 

(He  goes.  ALBERT  makes  a  gesture  to 
detain  him,  but  STOCKMAR  glances  at  him 
meaningly  and  goes  out  with  the  FOOTMAN. 
LADY  GAY  edges  out  after  them} 

They  will  see — they  will  see — On  the  honor  of  a 
Queen,  I  swear 

ALBERT 

Be  calm,  my  darling. 


150  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Calm!     When  those  howling  dogs  are  yelping  their 
vile  filth?    Calm!    You  can  ask  that! 


ALBERT 

For  my  sake,  dearest.    It  is  not  easy  for  either  of  us. 

(She  looks  at  him  and  sees  that  his  quietude 
is  a  thin  cover  for  great  distress.  Suddenly 
her  rage  is  drowned  in  tears.  She  stumbles 
into  his  arms} 

My   dearest    heart,    misunderstood,    maligned,    tra 
duced,  my  precious,  precious  love. 


FIFTH  EPISODE 

BEDROOM  OF  THE  PRINCE  CONSORT,  BUCKINGHAM 
PALACE 

DECEMBER  13,  1861 


FIFTH  EPISODE 

It  is  December  I3th,  1861. 

The  scene  is  an  angle  in  Albert's  bedchamber.  In 
the  shorter  wall  forming  the  angle,  to  the  right  of 
the  audience,  a  fire  burns  under  a  mantel  which  is 
burdened  with  a  tasseled  lambrequin,  a  black  marble 
clock  topped  with  a  bronze  statuette  of  Hamlet,  and 
heavily  ornate  girandoles.  Facing  out  from  the 
larger  wall,  in  the  centre  of  the  stage,  ALBERT  lies, 
propped  up  a  little  with  pillows  in  his  ponderous 
four-post  bed,  his  hair  carefully  ordered.  The  heavy 
canopies  are  looped  back,  and  between  him  and  the 
fire,  close  to  his  side,  VICTORIA  sits  in  a  strange, 
puffily  upholstered  high-backed  armchair,  reading 
aloud  from  the  works  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  bed  is  nothing  but  a  narrow  walnut 
commode,  with  a  marble  top,  on  which  stand  a  water 
pitcher,  glasses,  and  bottles  of  medicine. 

VICTORIA 

(In  a  monotone} 

"  'Child  of  my  sorrow,'  he  said,  'well  should'st  thou 
be  called  Benoni  instead  of  Rebecca  !  Why  should'st 
thy  death  bring  down  my  grey  hairs  to  the 
grave ?'  " 

(She  glances  at  ALBERT,   and  loses   her 
place] 

153 


154  Queen    Victoria 

"  'Child  of  my  sorrow,'  he  said." — No — I  read  that. 
Oh,  yes,  here's  the  place.  "  'To  the  grave  till  in  the 
bitterness  of  my  heart,  I '  ' 

(He  stirs.  She  feels  his  head,  arid  rear 
ranges  his  pillows) 

Are  you  in  pain,  my  love  ? 

ALBERT 

Um — um ! 

(She  interprets  that  as  a  negative  because 
his  head  moves  from  side  to  side.  She  sits 
again ) 

VICTORIA 

— "  'till  in  the  bitterness  of  my  heart'  " — We  were 
further  on  than  that.  "  'I  curse  God  and  die!'  "  Are 
you  comfortable,  my  heart? 

(His  hand  goes  to  his  head  convulsively, 
and  rumples  his  hair.  Instinctively  he  tries 
to  smooth  it ^again.  VICTORIA  does  it  for 
him  and  takes  the  occasion  to  kiss  his  fore 
head} 

Beloved.  .    .    .    There,  it's  all  in  nice  again. 
(She  resumes  her  reading} 

"  'Child  of  my  sorrow'  " — Oh,  I'm  always  losing  the 
place.  Let's  see.  Oh,  here.  "  'Oh,  she  was  as  a 
crown  of  green  palms  to  my  grey  locks;  and  she  must 
wither  in  a  night  like  a  gourd  of  Jonah !  Child  of  my 
love — child  of  my  old  age'  " — Oh ! 


Queen    Victoria  155 

(She  has  forgotten  his  medicine.  She  pours 
it,  supports  his  head  on  her  arm,  and  drops 
it  down  his  mouth.  He  shudders.  She 
fondles  his  face,  presses  her  lips  to  the 
crown  of  his  head,  and  replaces  him  in  his 
former  position,  smoothing  the  coverlet. 
Before  she  puts  his  hand  beneath  the 
covers,  she  lays  it  to  her  cheek.  She  essays 
to  read  Ivanhoe  once  more) 

VICTORIA 

'  'Child  of  my  sorrow,'  he  said,  'well  shouldst  thou 
be  called '  '  Does  Ivanhoe  interest  you,  dear 
est? 

(In  glancing  at  him  she  sees  an  ornament 
displaced;  she  orders  it,  and  returns  to  her 
book] 

"  'She  was  as  a  crown  of  green  palms '  ' 

ALBERT 

Meine  Frduchen. 

VICTORIA 

(Jumping  up  and  letting  the  book  drop  to 
the  floor) 

What  is  it,  my  love? 

ALBERT 

Ich  will — /  want  musik.     A  chorale — but  at  a  dis 
tance — far  away 

(She  hastens  to  the  door) 


156  Queen    Victoria 


Alice — my  daughter  should  play  for  me. 

(VICTORIA    opens    the   door   slightly    and 
whispers  to  someone  outside] 

Close  the  door.     Music — way — way — away. 

(She  recloses  the  door  and  returns  to  the 
bed} 

I  want  to  hear  Bach. 


ALBERT 

Luther  is  good — Luther  is  good. 

(She  returns.  An  organ  in  the  distance 
plays  "Ein  Feste  Burg  ist  unser  Gott."  She 
sits  holding  his  hand  as  they  listen.  Soon 
he  begins  to  repeat  the  words.  Her  head 
nods  as  a  mother's  will  when  her  son  is 
"reciting  a  piece."  The  music  stops,  but 
he  continues  for  a  line  or  so.  His  mind 
wanders} 

Nicht,  Ernst,  nicht,  meine  Bruder.  Play  soft — it  is 
Bach,  not  opera  boufe.  Ach,  you  have  no  soul  for 
music,  my  brother.  Now  once  more — ein,  zwei,  drei 
— spiel.  Nicht — Nicht — NICHT.  Pianissimo,  not 
fortissimo!  Oh,  Ernst,  we  shall  never  learn  this 
duet! 


Queen    Victoria  157 

VICTORIA 
(In  consternation) 

Albert,  my  soul!  You  are  not  playing,  and  your 
brother  Ernst  is  not  here — our  daughter  Alice  was 
playing,  not  you,  dearest  Albert.  I  am  here — I — 
don't  you — don't  you  know  me,  my  heart's  heart? 

ALBERT 

(His  mind  returns  from  its  wandering — he 
strokes  her  cheek  and  murmurs) 

Liebes  Frduchen. 

(She  is  reasurred) 
Gutes  Weibchen. 

VICTORIA 

(Almost  purring) 
Ah.  ... 

(She  sits  again.     But  his  mind  strays  of 
once  more) 

ALBERT 

Palmerston — if  he  had  not  resigned — what  is  the 
song?  "Little  Al,  the  royal  pal" 

VICTORIA 
Oh,  merciful  heavens ! 


158  Queen    Victoria 


ALBERT 

"German  lad  has  acted  sad."  .  .  .  Must  make  a 
memorandum. 

(She  has  flown  to  the  door  and  whispered 
excitedly  to  the  person  outside,  who  evi 
dently  goes  away.  She  stands,  alternately 
looking  out  and  back  at  the  Prince) 

Memorandum — Palmerston  resigned — order,  my 
love,  always  order — deliberate  always  before  you 
act,  my  heart 

(SiR  JAMES  CLARK,  the  royal  physician, 
enters  hastily.  He  goes  through  all  the 
motions — feels  the  patient's  pulse,  his  fore 
head,  listens  to  his  heart-beats,  counts  his 
pulse  again.  ALBERT  is  still  in  delirium) 

They  are  howling  at  me,  my  love,  not  at  you.  I 
have  done  nothing  to  them,  why  shoujd  they  hate 
me?  Spiel,  Ernst,  spiel.  Ah,  Coburg!  .  .  . 


VICTORIA 

Oh,  doctor — Sir  James ! 

SIR  JAMES 
(Trying  to  be  cheerful) 

Er — er — a    slight    delirium,    Your    Majesty — The 
fever. 


Queen    Victoria  159 

ALBERT 

Musik — Now,  Ernst,  we  will  play  the  organ — ein, 

zivei 

VICTORIA 

(Wringing  her  hands} 
Sir  James!     Sir  James! 

SIR  JAMES 

(With  forced  cheerfulness} 
There  is  nothing  to  cause  alarm.  .  .  . 

VICTORIA 

(Catching  the  forced  note  in  his  voice) 
Is  there  any  danger? 

SIR  JAMES 

No — er — that  is  to  say 

(He  stops  and  is  unable  to  look  at  her. 
She  gazes  about  the  room,  agonized,  help 
less,  as  though  expecting  aid  to  come  from 
the  corners  or  the  ceiling) 

ALBERT 

You  are  always  right,  Stockmar.  If  Prussia  were 
strong — England  must  be  strong,  too — The  English 
do  not  make  music — Play  for  me,  my  brother.  We 
will  learn — we  will  learn 


160  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 

(Sinking  to  her  knees  beside  the  bed,  speak 
ing  through  suppressed  hysteria} 

Es  ist  kleines  Frauchen — kleines  Frduchen 


Du  bist  verriickt- 


ALBERT 

(Singing) 


VICTORIA 
Albert,  don't  you  know  me? 


Mem  Kind- 


ALBERT 
(Continuing) 


VICTORIA 

Your  wife,  Albert,  your  love — Drina — your  Drina. 
Albert,  my  darling,  my  soul,  I  am  here.  Don't  you 
know  me? 

(The  FOOTMAN  enters.  CLARK  motions 
him  to  go  away.  But  the  FOOTMAN  has  an 
important  message  to  deliver.  CLARK 
goes  to  him.  VICTORIA  continues  to 
mumble) 


SIR  JAMES 
Sh— Sh. 


Queen    Victoria  161 


FOOTMAN 
Pardon,  Sir  James,  but 

SIR  JAMES 

Sh— sh. 

FOOTMAN 

Lord  Palmerston  is  here. 

SIR  JAMES 

Tell  him  to  go  away. 

FOOTMAN 

He  is  accompanied  by  the  American  Ambassador. 
He  must  see  Her  Majesty. 

SIR  JAMES 

Her  Majesty  can  see  no  one. 

(He  turns  away.  The  FOOTMAN  goes.  SIR 
JAMES  has  scarcely  begun  to  concoct  a  medi 
cine  before  the  FOOTMAN  returns.  SIR 
JAMES  moves  to  him) 

No — no 

(He  points  to  the  'door} 

FOOTMAN 

Lord  Palmerston  bade  me  say  that  he  would  not 
venture  to  intrude  at  such  a  moment  were  it  not  that 
a  situation  involving  war  or  peace  in  both  hemi 
spheres  has  arisen. 


1 62  Queen    Victoria 


SIR  JAMES 

Go,  go — GO. 

FOOTMAN 

Lord    Palmerston   bade   me   inform   Her    Majesty 
that 

SIR  JAMES 

Sh— sh 

(He  goes  out  followed  by  the  sorrowing 
FOOTMAN.  ALBERT  is  now  quiet.  VIC 
TORIA  is  still  kneeling,  stroking  his  hand, 
kissing  it,  fondling  his  face,  mumbling  en 
dearments.  SIR  JAMES  re-enters  and  ap 
proaches  her.  He  speaks  with  a  profes 
sional  sick-bed  intonation} 

Your  Majesty 

(She  doesn't  heed.    He  lifts  his  'voice  slightly} 
Er — Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

(Dazed} 
Eh? 

SIR  JAMES 

Pray  pardon  an  intrusion  on  your  thoughts  at  such 
a  moment 

VICTORIA 
(Sharply} 
What  is  it,  Sir  James? 


Queen   Victoria  163 

SIR  JAMES 
(Taken  aback) 
Er — er — He  begs  me  to  beg  Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 

Who  begs? 

SIR  JAMES 

Er — er — Lord  Palmerston. 

VICTORIA 

Oh! 

(It  is  a  little  cry  of  anguish  and  anger. 
Her  arm  goes  out  to  shield  ALBERT.  She. 
collects  herself) 

What  does  he  want? 

SIR  JAMES 

He  begs 

VICTORIA 

Pray  be  brief. 

SIR  JAMES 

Lord  Palmerston,  accompanied  by  the  American 
Ambassador,  Mr.  Charles  Francis  Adams,  has  come 
to  the  Palace 

VICTORIA 

Present  my  compliments  to  Mr.  Adams,  and  say  that 
Her  Majesty  regrets  that  she  cannot  receive  him. 


164  Queen    Victoria 


SIR  JAMES 

Pardon  my  insistence,  Your  Majesty,  but  a  matter  of 
great  moment  has  arisen. 


VICTORIA 
Nothing  is  of  moment  now — nothing — nothing.  .  .  . 

SIR  JAMES 

Two  envoys,  loyal  to  Mr.  Jefferson  Davis,  have 
been  removed  from  the  Trent,  a  British  steamer,  by 
officers  of  President  Lincoln.  Mr.  Adams  has  in 
structions  from  his  government  in  reply  to  our  de 
mand  for  an  explanation. 

(He  waits.      VICTORIA  is  occupied  with 
ALBERT) 

What  action  will  Your  Majesty  take? 
VICTORIA 

My  love 

SIR  JAMES 
The  affair  is  critical. 

VICTORIA 

My  soul 


Queen   Victoria  165 


SIR  JAMES 
It  may  mean  war  with  our  American  cousins. 

VICTORIA 
Oh,  I  don't  care — I  don't  care  about  anything. 

(Slowly  ALBERT,  who  has  been  lying 
quietly,  moves  his  arm  and  feebly  pushes 
her  away.  She  looks  at  the  arm  in  amaze 
ment  not  unmixed  with  joy  at  his  lucidity. 
He  pushes  her  again.  Without  a  word,  she 
rises  and  goes  out.  His  arm  falls  limply. 
He  lies  absolutely  still.  SIR  JAMES  ap 
proaches  him  in  trepidation,  picks  up  his 
hand.  ALBERT  jerks  it  away,  rises  on  the 
other  elbow) 

ALBERT 

See,  my  love — a  palace  all  of  crystal — like  jewels 
in  the  sun — see — see — how  it  rises — up — up — to 
heaven.  All  glass,  my  heart,  high  as  a  church,  higher, 
higher,  hi — gh — er 

(His  voice  loud  and  full) 
Victoria ! 

(He  collapses  and  dies) 

(SiR  JAMES  is  frantic.  He  rushes  to  the 
bed,  listens  for  ALBERT'S  heart,  feels  his 
pulse,  examines  his  eyes,  and  gives  up.  He 
looks  about  the  room  stupidly,  suddenly 
rushes  out,  leaving  the  door  open.  A  gasp, 


1 66  Queen    Victoria 


an  exclamation,  are  heard,  then  a  sort  of 
dull  running  about,  as  though  several  per 
sons  were  scurrying  aimlessly.  VICTORIA 
comes  hurtling  into  the  room,  straight  to 
the  bed,  looks  once  at  the  corpse,  and 
shrieks — one  long  wild  shriek} 


INTERMISSION 


SIXTH  EPISODE 

RECEPTION  ROOM  IN  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE 
THE  EARLY  'SEVENTIES 


SIXTH  EPISODE 

It  is  some  time  during  the  premiership  of  Mr. 
Gladstone,  before  Disraeli's  second  accession  to 
power  in  1874.  The  scene  is  the  same  chamber  as 
the  fourth  episode,  save  that  Albert's  table  has  been 
removed.  It  is  the  Queen's  birthday  (she  is  between 
50  and  60),  and  the  room  is  cluttered  with  stiff  and 
formal  floral  emblems,  ponderous  and  beribboned. 
Amid  these  melancholy  tokens  of  festivity,  Victoria 
sits  at  her  solitary  table,  going  through  routine  docu 
ments,  grimly,  determinedly,  and  quite  without  in 
terest.  The  aging  FOOTMAN  enters,  bearing  yet  more 
floral  tokens. 

(  FOOTMAN  ) 

(Announcing} 

From  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London.     From  the — er 
— er — the  City  of  Birmingham. 

(VICTORIA  pays  no  heed;  she  'does  not 
'even  glance  at  the  flowers.  The  FOOTMAN 
finds  a  place  for  the  latest  offerings  and 
goes  out.  The  QUEEN  drops  her  work, 
glances  at  the  table  of  flowers,  picks  up 
ALBERT'S  photograph  and  gazes  at  it  with 
affectionate  melancholy.  She  sighs  and  re 
sumes  her  labors.  The  FOOTMAN  brings 
in  a  huge  sheaf  of  roses  and  a  formal 
"piece"  of  lilies — the  latter  the  stifest  of 
169 


170  Queen    Victoria 


the  whole  lot.  He  offers  them  to  the 
QUEEN  as  the  butler  would  a  platter  at 
dinner.  Referring  to  the  roses) 

From  the  House  of  Commons. 

(To  the  lilies') 
From  Her  Majesty's  Government. 

(VICTORIA  turns  and  looks  at  them — coldly) 

VICTORIA 

Find  a  place  for  them. 

(The  man  puts  them  in  the  most  conspicu 
ous  position) 

Have  you  forgotten  that  we  are  leaving  for  Scotland 

and  the  silver  is  not  yet  put  away? 

FOOTMAN 

Oh,  I  beg  pardon. 

(He  goes  out  hastily.  The  QUEEN  regards 
the  flowers,  turns  her  back  on  them  very 
pointedly,  and  embroiders  with  angry  agi 
tation.  The  FOOTMAN  returns  with  a  rose 
wood  case  of  "flat"  silver.  He  puts  it  on 
the  desk.  VICTORIA  lays  aside  her  fancy 
work,  rises,  opens  the  case,  removes  a  list 
and  the  bundle  of  forks,  and  counts  them) 

VICTORIA 

Twenty- four  forks — One,  two  three  .  .  . 


Queen    Victoria  171 

FOOTMAN 

I  beg  pardon,  Your  Majesty,  but  Mr.  Gladstone 
presents  his  compliments  and  craves  an  audience. 

VICTORIA 

Four,  five — We  will  receive  Mr.  Gladstone. 
(As  the  FOOTMAN  is  departing} 

Don't  bring  any  more  flowers  in  here.  coeven,  eight, 
ten  .  .  . 

FOOTMAN 

Very  well,  Your  Majesty. 

(He  throws  open  the  'door  on  the  left  and 
announces) 

Mr.  William  Ewart  Gladstone. 

(He  exits  as  GLADSTONE  enters.  The 
Prime  Minister  is  apparelled  as  for  a 
State  occasion.  .  .He  is  more  than  60  years 
old  and  already  bears  the  weight  of  "Grand 
Old  Man."  Fery  solemnly  he  kisses  the 
QUEEN'S  hand) 

GLADSTONE 

In  the  name  of  Your  Majesty's  Ministers  and  of 
myself,  Your  Majesty's  Prime  Minister,  I  desire  to 
congratulate  Your  Majesty  on  the  anniversary  of 
her  birth.  The  vastness  of  Your  Majesty's  Empire, 
the  success  of  Your  Majesty's  armies  and  fleets,  and 
the  prosperity  of  Your  Majesty's  subjects,  have  made 
this 'day  a  day  of  rejoicing  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  this  great  realm. 


172  Queen    Victoria 

VICTORIA 
Has  it?    Fourteen  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

(Deflated] 
Pardon? 

VICTORIA 

Does  the  nation  rejoice? 

GLADSTONE 

The  British  people,  Your  Majesty,  have  for  their 
sovereign  an  affection  unparalleled  in 

VICTORIA 
(Interrupting} 

Then  the  House  of  Commons  does  not  truly  repre 
sent  the  British  people.  Eighteen,  twenty,  twenty- 
four. 

( The  forks  are  all  there.  She  wraps  them 
up,  replaces  them  and  begins  on  the  knives. 
Quite  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  take  her 
asperity,  GLADSTONE  looks  about  for  aid. 
He  finds  it  In  the  great  sheaf  of  roses  pre 
sented  by  the  House  of  Commons] 

GLADSTONE 

The  House,  Your  Majesty,  voted  unanimously  to 
make  this  slight  offering 


Queen    Victoria  173 


VICTORIA 

I  am  quite  shocked  at  the  way  the  House  goes  on, 
Mr.  Gladstone.  They  really  bring  discredit  on 
Constitutional  Government.  One,  two  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

(Misunderstanding") 

But  flowers  on  such  a  momentous  occasion  are  most 
appropriate. 

VICTORIA 

I  refer  to  the  current  debate  on  the  appropriation  for 
the  support  of  the  Crown.  Five,  six,  seven  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 
(In  his  best  debating  manner} 

The  subject  of  that  debate,  Your  Majesty,  properly 
to  be  apprehended,  would  require  a  detailed  knowl 
edge  of  the  condition  of  the  National  Exchequer. 
In  the  present  state  of  the  public  finances  to  vote 
a  grant  of  60,000  pounds  per  annum  for  the  Sov 
ereign's  private  use  in  addition  to  the  grant  of  385,- 
ooo  pounds  per  annum  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  royal  Household  and  to  support  the  honor  and 
dignity  of  the  Crown  is  considered  perhaps  a  bit 
excessive. 

VICTORIA 

Excessive ! 


174  Queen    Victoria 


GLADSTONE 

Your  Majesty  will  agree  that  since  the  demise  of 
the  Prince  Consort  and  Your  Majesty's  continued 
seclusion,  the  expenditures  for  both  these  purposes 
have  been  very  considerably  diminished. 

VICTORIA 

So  the  royal  menage  is  to  be  conducted  like  a  trades 
man's  household. 

(Emphatically} 
Twelve,  thirteen  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

Oh,  Your  Majesty  misapprehends.  It  is  merely  that 
the  state  of  the  public  finances — Now,  if  Your 
Majesty  would  consent  to  resume  the  ceremonial 
functions  of  the  Crown 

VICTORIA 

Ah,  then,  the  public  finances  would  be  sufficient  to 
defray  all  expenses?  The  House  demands  value  re 
ceived.  Is  that  it,  Mr.  Gladstone?  Eighteen,  nine 
teen  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

Really,  Your  Majesty 

VICTORIA 
Is  that  not  so,  Mr.  Gladstone? 


Queen    Victoria  175 


GLADSTONE 

Your  Majesty  is  aware  that  the  continuous  mourning 
for  the  Prince  Consort  and  the  protracted  seclusion 
which  that  mourning  involves  not  only  casts  a  gloom 
over  high  society,  not  only  deprives  the  populace  of 
the  opportunity  to  see  the  glorious  person  of  the 
Sovereign  and  to  be  inspired  by  the  vision  of  her 
splendor,  but  also  exercises  a  most  deleterious  effect 
upon  the  dressmaking,  millinery  and  hosiery  trades. 
The  dearth  of  state  functions  deprives  them  of  much 
of  their  income  and 

VICTORIA 

(Quite  seriously] 

Why  has  no  one  called  my  attention  before  to  this 
aspect  of  my  retirement?  Twenty-one,  twenty-two. 

GLADSTONE 

(Feels  he  has  won] 

The  whole  world  respected  too  profoundly  Your 
Majesty's  sorrow. 

VICTORIA 

That  sorrow  does  not  diminish  with  time,  Mr.  Glad 
stone.  Twenty-four. 

(  The  knives  are  all  there.    She  puts  them 
in  the  case  and  begins  on  the  spoons] 

GLADSTONE 

Your  Majesty's  immersion  in  grief  has  set  an  example 
for  all  lovers  in  the  Empire. 


176  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

All  the  more  reason  why  I  should  adhere  to  my 
grief.  Even  if  I  could  forget  my  bereavement,  Mr. 
Gladstone,  what  you  have  just  said  would  make  me 
desire  that  the  world  should  not  know  I  had  for 
gotten  my  great  loss.  But  I  can  never  forget.  One, 
two,  three  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 
(With  desperate  persistence} 

There  have  been  rumors  that  Your  Majesty  will 
emerge  from  your  retirement. 

VICTORIA 

They  are  false  rumors,  Mr.  Gladstone.    Five,  six  ... 

GLADSTONE 

But  if  Your  Majesty  will  deign  to  consider  the 
necessity 

VICTORIA 

The  whole  subject  sir,  is  extremely  distasteful. 
Eight,  nine  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

(After  a  moment] 

I  am  aware  of  Your  Majesty's  reluctance  in  this 
matter  and  of  the  exquisite  delicacy  that  prompts  it; 
but  if  you  would  consent  to  appear  at  intervals — 
even  at  Ions  intervals 


Queen    Victoria  177 


VICTORIA 

I  cannot  give  the  populace  its  pageantry,  Mr.  Glad 
stone.  My  heart  is  too  heavy.  Eleven,  twelve  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

On  Thursday  of  next  week  a  bronze  statue  of  Words 
worth,  the  late  poet  laureate,  is  to  be  unveiled  in 
Hammersmith.  If  your  Majesty  would  honor  the 
occasion 

VICTORIA 

There  are  higher  duties  than  mere  representation 
which  are  now  thrown  upon  the  Queen  alone  and 
unassisted.  Fourteen,  fifteen  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

A  royal  progress  through  London  on  Thursday  next 
would  do  much  to  dispel  the — er — the — er 

VICTORIA 
I  am  quite  aware  of  my  unpopularity, 

(H e  makes  a  gesture  of  protest} 

and  of  the  attacks  of  the  Chartists  and  other  hor 
rible  radicals  on  both  the  theory  and  the  practice 
of  the  Monarchy.  Sixteen,  seventeen  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

Every  Englishman,  of  whatever  class  or  condition, 
however  prosperous  or  poor,  whether  educated  or 
ignorant — every  Englishman,  Your  Majesty,  realizes 
that  the  Monarchy  as  it  exists  is  a  vital  element  of 
the  British  Constitution.  Every  Englishman 


178  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Well,  as  long  as  there  is  a  Monarchy  and  /  am  the 
Monarch,  I  will  exercise  the  privilege  of  a  Monarch 
and  perform  my  duties  as  my  conscience  directs. 
Nineteen,  twenty  .  .  . 

GLADSTONE 

(Trying  to  be  gay} 

Ah,  then,  surely  the  royal  conscience  will  direct  that 
Your  Majesty  appear  at  the  unveiling  of  the  bronze 
statue  to  Wordsworth  on  Thursday 

VICTORIA 

Mr.  Gladstone,  I  will  not  appear  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  bronze  statue  to  Wordsworth  on  Thursday. 
That  is  final. 

( The  Prime  Minister  bows  and  stands  un 
comfortably.  It  is  scarcely  an  auspicious 
moment  for  him  to  take  his  departure,' nor 
yet  can  he  find  reason  to  do  otherwise.  He, 
longs  for  an  interruption.  It  comes} 

Twenty-two,  twenty-three.     Twenty-three 

(Excitedly] 
A  silver  spoon  is  missing! 

(Her  voice  has  suddenly  grown  loud.  The 
FOOTMAN  hurriedly  enters} 

A  silver  spoon  is  missing! 


Queen   Victoria  179 

( The  FOOTMAN  searches  under  the  table, 
VICTORIA  in  the  case) 

Where  can  it  be?     Could  it  have  been  stolen? 

(  The  search  becomes  more  energetic.  MR. 
GLADSTONE  joins  in  rather  gingerly} 

I  wouldn't  lose  it  for  anything.  I  have  had  this 
silver  since  my  marriage.  The  Prince  Consort  gave 
it  to  me.  It  was  made  in  Coburg.  Where  can  it 
—Ah— h 

(GLADSTONE  has  found  it  beneath  her 
chair.  He  presents  it  to  her  with  the  same 
dignified  flourish  that  he  would  offer  her 
an  empire) 

Oh,  thank  you  so  much,  Mr.  Gladstone.  Albert  was 
as  fond  of  this  silver  as  of  that  vase. 

(She  proceeds  to  arrange  the  pieces,  to 
close  and  lock  the  box,  then  she  takes  up 
her  fancy  work  again.  Once  more  the 
Prime  Minister  stands  uncomfortably. 
Finally  he  clears  his  throat) 

GLADSTONE 

If  Your  Majesty  will  permit,  I  should  like  to  call 
attention  to  a  matter  which  has  been  agitating  the 
Government  for  some  time.  It  is  in  the  nature  of 
a  reform 

VICTORIA 
I  live  in  an  atmosphere  of  interminable  reform. 


180  Queen    Victoria 


GLADSTONE 

This  reform  is  not  political;  it  concerns  the  wearing 
of  beards  in  the  Navy. 

VICTORIA 

( Turning  in  her  chair) 
I  have  been  studying  that  question. 

GLADSTONE 

The  British  sailor  who  has  carried  the  flag  to  every 
port  and  keeps  it  flying  on  every  sea  is  hampered  in 
two  ways  by  the  present  regulations  requiring  him 
to  shave.  First,  the  difficulty  of  the  actual  act  of 
shaving  on  a  rolling  sea,  and,  secondly,  the  strongly 
masculine  aspect  which  hair  gives  to  sailors'  faces. 

VICTORIA 
I  approve  very  much  of  beards  in  the  Navy. 

GLADSTONE 

Ah,  that  is  gratifying.  But  some  members  of  Your 
Majesty's  Government  maintain  that  shaven  men 
have  an  appearance  of  cleanliness  which  unshaven 
ones  have  not.  I  myself  feel  that  the  argument  is 
negated  by  the  fact  that  a  man  with  a  beard  is  less 
likely  to  be  unkempt  than  a  man  who  has  neglected 
to  shave  for  a  clay  or  so. 


Queen    Victoria  181 


VICTORIA 

We  are  entirely  in  accord. 

GLADSTONE 

On  the  other  hand 

VICTORIA 

I  have  reached  a  decision,  Mr.  Gladstone.  My  own 
personal  feeling  would  be  for  the  beards  without  the 
mustaches,  as  the  latter  have  a  rather  soldier-like 
appearance. 

GLADSTONE 

Quite  so. 

VICTORIA 

But  since  the  object  in  view  is  to  prevent  the  necessity 
of  shaving,  it  had  better  be  as  proposed!  the  entire 
beard.  Only  it  should  be  kept  short  and  very  clean, 
and  on  no  account  should  mustaches  be  allowed  with 
out  beards.  And  the  beard  must  be  under  the  chin 
like  the  Prince  Consort's.  That  must  be  clearly 
understood. 

GLADSTONE 

It  shall  be,  Your  Majesty,  it  shall  be.  How  great 
is  England's  fortune  to  be  governed  by  a  Queen  of 
such  perspicacity,  intellect  and  lofty  ideals,  \vho  is 
inspired 

FOOTMAN 

Mr.  Benjamin  Disraeli. 


1 82  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

(Showing  relief  and  delight} 
We  will  receive  him. 

( To  GLADSTONE,  in  dismissal] 

I  am  deeply  appreciative  of  your  lofty  sentiments  and 
kind  wishes. 

(He  bows  over  her  hand} 

GLADSTONE 

Perhaps  Your  Majesty  will  reconsider  the  matter  of 
appearing  at  Hammersmith  on  the  occasion 

VICTORIA 
(Sharply} 
No !    I  will  not  reconsider  and  I  will  not  appear. 

(GLADSTONE  goes.     At  the  door  he  en 
counters  DISRAELI) 

DISRAELI 

Ah,  Mr.  Gladstone!     Good  morning,  sir. 
(To  the  QUEEN,  gaily] 

Has  he  been  making  the  bricks  of  the  future  with 
the  straw  of  reform? 

GLADSTONE 
(Gravely} 
Good  morning,  sir. 

(Exit) 


Queen   Victoria  183 

VICTORIA 
(Warmly} 
Oh,  Mr.  Disraeli,  I  am  so  glad  you  have  come. 

DISRAELI 

There  is  no  honor  and  no  reward  that  can  ever  equal 
the  possession  of  Your  Majesty's  kind  thoughts.  All 
my  own  thoughts  and  feelings  and  duties  and  af 
fections  are  now  concentrated  in  Your  Majesty,  and 
I  desire  nothing  more  for  my  remaining  years  than 
to  serve  Your  Majesty. 

VICTORIA 
(Sighing  with  pleasure} 

Ah,  sir,  how  your  words  soothe  my  troubled 
heart! 

DISRAELI 

Today  I  ought  fitly,  perhaps,  to  congratulate  a  pow 
erful  Sovereign  on  the  vastness  of  her  Empire,  the 
prosperity  of  her  subjects,  and  the  success  and 
strength  of  her  fleets  and  armies.  But  I  cannot; 
my  mind  is  in  another  mood.  I  can  only  think  of 
the  strangeness  of  my  destiny  that  it  has  come  to  pass 
that  I  should  be  the  servant  of  one  so  great,  and 
whose  infinite  kindness,  the  brightness  of  whose  in 
telligence  and  the  firmness  of  whose  will,  have  en 
abled  me  to  undertake  labors  to  which  I  otherwise 
would  be  unequal.  Upon  the  Sovereign  of  many 
lands  and  many  hearts  may  an  omnipotent  Provi 
dence  shed  every  blessing  that  the  wise  can  desire 
and  the  virtuous  deserve. 


184  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

I  am  'deeply  moved  by  your  beautiful  sentiments. 

DISRAELI 

But  it  is  not  to  my  Sovereign  that  I  present  my 
homage  and  my  supernal  affection  on  this  day  fortu 
nate  above  all  other  days  of  the  year — It  is  to  my 
Faerie  Queen — my  Faerie — that  I  pay  my  profound 
reverence. 

(VICTORIA  wipes  her  eyes,  much  affected, 
and  silently  holds  out  a  hand  to  him.  He 
kneels  and  kisses  it.  Heretofore  he  has 
held  his  left  hand  behind  his  back.  Now 
he  brings  it  forth,  holding  a  primrose) 

VICTORIA 

( Taking  the  flower) 
How  exquisitely  lovely! 

DISRAELI 

Once  when  I  was  ill  and  melancholy  and  almost 
despairing  there  came  to  me  like  the  promise  of  a 
new  day  a  cluster  of  primroses — plucked  by  the  in 
comparable  hand  of  my  Faerie — and  in  her  gracious 
condescension  despatched  to  me.  At  once,  as  by  a 
miracle,  I  was  healed!  And  from  that  moment 
primroses  have  been  to  me  the  ambassadors  of  spring, 
the  very  gems  and  jewels  of  Nature. 


Queen    Victoria  185 


( The  QUEEN  cups  the  flower  In  her  hand 
and  presses  it  to  her  face.  She  sighs.  An 
idea  comes  to  her.  She  goes  to  the  table 
where  the  Government's  lilies  are  and  lays 
the  primroses  for  a  moment  beside  them. 
She  looks  at  DISRAELI  to  remark  the  con 
trast} 

VICTORIA 
Simple  and  true  like  you,  Mr.  Disraeli. 

(A  pause) 
I  like  it  so  much  better  for  being  wild. 

(Another  pause.  She  touches  the  roses 
and  gestures  to  the  other  floral  tributes) 

They  pity  me  and  not  my  grief.  I  have  had  a  terrible 
interview  with  Mr.  Gladstone. 

DISRAELI 

(Sympathetically) 
My  Faerie!  .  .  . 

VICTORIA 

He  is  always  instituting  some  odious  reform. 

DISRAELI 

Mr.  Gladstone  possesses  all  the  virtues. 

VICTORIA 

I  am  'determined  that  no  one  is  to  lead  or  guide  or 
dictate  to  me. 


1 86  Queen   Victoria 


DISRAELI 

You  are  unable,  Madam,  to  mete  out  full  justice  to 
Mr.  Gladstone,  due  no  doubt  to  his  unhappy  manner 
of  presentation. 

VICTORIA 

He  speaks  to  me  as  if  I  were  a  public  meeting  I 

DISRAELI 

He  is  indeed  a  sophisticated  rhetorician,  inebriated 
with  the  exuberance  of  his  own  verbosity,  and  withal 
dwindling  into  senility. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  Mr.  Disraeli,  how  perfectly  you  express  itl 

DISRAELI 

And  now,  my  Faerie,  let  us  permit  no  cloud  to  mar 
the  untrammeled  lambency  of  this  day  of  days.  No 
cares,  my  liege.  Let  us  forget  everything  except  that 
life  is  but  a  dazzling  farce  and  an  engrossing  game. 

VICTORIA 

But  oh,  sir,  how  fearful  it  is  to  be  suspected, 
uncheered — unguided  and  unadvised — and  how  alone 
the  poor  Queen  feels ! 

DISRAELI 

The  price  of  genius  and  supreme  greatness,  my 
Faerie. 


Queen    Victoria  187 

VICTORIA 
But  when  the  Prince  was  with  me  all  was  so  different. 

DISRAELI 

How  well  I  comprehend  that.  The  Prince  is  the  only 
person  whom  I  have  ever  known  who  realized  the 
Ideal.  There  was  in  him  a  union  of  manly  grace 
and  sublime  simplicity,  of  chivalry  with  the  intel 
lectual  splendor  of  the  Attic  Academe.  The  only 
character  in  English  history  that  would  in  some  re 
spects  draw  near  to  him  is  Sir  Philip  Sidney;  the 
same  high  tone,  the  same  universal  accomplishments, 
the  same  blended  tenderness  and  vigor,  the  same  rare 
combination  of  romantic  energy  and  classic  repose. 
My  acquaintance  with  the  Prince  has  been  one  of 
the  most  satisfactory  incidents  of  my  life;  full  of 
refined  and  beautiful  memories,  and  exercising,  as  I 
hope,  over  my  remaining  existence,  a  soothing  and 
exalting  influence. 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  Mr.  Disraeli !    The  depth  and  delicacy  of  these 

touches ! 

DISRAELI 

If  I  could  by  so  much  lighten  your  burden,  my  Queen 
and  my  Faerie,  I  should  consider  myself  the  most 
fortunate  of  men,  the  blessed  of  the  Almighty,  and 
the  favored  of  His  greatest  servant. 


1 88  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

My  burdens  seem  to  fall  away  when  you.  speak, 
sir. 

(At  the  mantelpiece} 

Heavens!  This  vase  right  on  the  edge.  It  might 
have  fallen  off  and  been  broken !  How  can  servants 
be  so  thoughtless? 

DISRAELI 

Not  thoughtless,  madam.  Thoughtful — of  every 
thing  but  their  duties. 

VICTORIA 

I  wouldn't  have  it  get  broken  for  worlds.  Albert 
was  jo  fond  of  it.  He  said  it  reminded  him  of 
me.  .  .  . 

(She  fondles  it  tenderly,  sentimentally, 
and  then  places  it  securely  on  the  shelf 
again} 

DISRAELI 

Grace  and  beauty  without  parallel.  .  .  . 

VICTORIA 

Those  were  the  very  words  he  used. 

(She  sighs) 
There  is  magic  in  your  tongue,  sir. 

(She  has  an  idea.  Roguishly,  sweetly,  she 
sticks  the  primrose  in  the  vase.  She  looks 


Queen    Victoria  189 


at  him  diffidently;  he  smiles,  she  smiles. 
Shyly  she  turns  to  the  mantel — and  is  in 
stantly  transformed) 

Heavens!     It's  dusty! 

(She  pulls  the  bell-rope) 

DISRAELI 

Nature's  humane  provision,  my  Faerie.  There  must 
be  a  film  of  dust  about  you,  else  your  dazzling 
brilliance  would  blind  the  eyes  of  all  mankind. 

(The  FOOTMAN  enters) 

(Pointing  to  the  mantel) 
Dust! 

(He  is  stunned,  recovers,  starts  towards 
the  door,  remembers  he  has  a  handker 
chief,  produces  it,  and  uses  it  vigorously 
on  the  mantel-shelf) 

DISRAELI 

If  only  the  dust  that  gathers  on  men's  minds  could 
be  so  swiftly  eliminated.  The  dust  on  England's 
mind!  You,  only  you,  my  Faerie,  can  dispel  it! 
One  breath,  my  liege,  and  England  is  herself  again! 

VICTORIA 

Oh,  Mr.  Disraeli,  if  only  you  were  my  Prime  Min 
ister  again!  I  pray  every  night  for  it  to  come  to 
pass.  There  would  be  no  more  odious  reforms. 


190  Queen    Victoria 


DISRAELI 

Be  not  too  sure  of  that,  my  Faerie.  There  are 
dangerous  things  within  me.  My  mind  is  a  con 
tinental  mind;  it  is  a  revolutionary  mind.  I  am 
only  truly  great  in  action.  And  I  might  desire  to 
be  truly  great. 

VICTORIA 

(Comfortably) 

I  have  no  fear.  If  you  were  my  First  Minister  all 
— everything  would  be  well  and  I  would  be  so  happy. 

(WALES  hurtles  into  the  room) 

WALES 

Congratulations,  mamma.  I  hope  you  have  a  happy 
birthday. 

(He  kisses  her  cheek) 

VICTORIA 

It  is  half  over  already. 

WALES 

(Affecting  gaiety) 
Never  too  late 

VICTORIA 
Why  did  you  not  appear  at  breakfast? 


Queen   Victoria  191 

WALES 

(He  is  afraid  of  her} 
Well,  I — I — mamma,  dear,  I  had  to 

VICTORIA 

(Sternly} 
What? 

WALES 

I    had    to    hurry    away   because — because — certain 
events,  you  see 

VICTORIA 

What  events,  Bertie? 

WALES 

Why — e  r — e  r 

(He  looks  appealingly  at  DISRAELI) 

VICTORIA 

What  events? 

WALES 

Well — er — it's — it's — the  Times  this  morning 

VICTORIA 

(Puzzled) 
The  Times? 


192  Queen    Victoria 


WALES 

Yes,  the  Times  newspaper.  But  they  are  always  glad 
when  they  can  print  things  about  us — about  prominent 
people.  They  delight  in  it.  You  would  think  their 
malice  gave  them  pleasure.  Whether  it's  true  or 
not 

VICTORIA 
What  are  you  talking  about  ? 

WALES 

You  don't  know! 

VICTORIA 

Know  what? 

WALES 

About  me — I  mean,  you  haven't  read ! 


(VICTORIA  looks  inquiringly  at  DISRAELI, 
although  she  knows  already  that  the  news 
will  be  distressing.  Her  face  hardens. 
DlSRAELI  silently  hands  her  a  copy  of  the 
paper,  folded.  A  headline  immediately 
jumps  out  at  her.  As  she  reads,  her  ex 
pression  grows  grimmer  and  grimmer) 

VICTORIA 

Is  this  true?    Are  you  called  as  a  witness  in  a  divorce 
case? 


Queen    Victoria  193 

WALES 

(Like  a  terrified  little  boy} 
Ye — es,  Mamma. 

(She  reads  a  few  sentences  more} 

DISRAELI 

(Aside,  to  WALES) 
What  shall  you  tell  the  court? 

WALES 

(With  dignity} 
The  truth,  like  any  other  Englishman. 

VICTORIA 
Are  you  really  implicated  in  this  ? 

WALES 

(Again  the  terrified  little  boy} 
N — no,  mamma — n — not  really — I 

VICTORIA 

(Throwing  away  the  paper.     Her  hand, 
trembles  with  anger} 

You  dared  to  do  such  a  thing! 

WALES 

No,  mamma. 


194  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

My  oldest  son  has  cast  disgrace  on  the  Crown  and 
tarnished  his  sacred  father's  memory!  Soiled  the 
greatest  name  in  the  world  and  besmirched  the  most 
beautiful  figure  in  English  history!  No  wonder  the 
House  of  Commons  dares  denude  the  Throne  of  its 
prerogatives  when  the  heir  to  the  Throne  makes 
himself  the  subject  of  the  lowest  gossip!  That's  the 
reason  the  people  positively  dislike  me  and  despise 
all  royalty.  That  explains  everything.  It  is  in 
tolerable. 

(Right  at  WALES) 

I  will  not  endure  it. 

WALES 
(Weakly] 

Mamma. 

VICTORIA 

(Focusing  her  anger  on  him} 

You  whom  your  father  brought  up  so  carefully, 
watched  over  all  your  studies  and  all  your  games 

and — and Go  to  your  room  and  don't  leave  it 

until  I  tell  you  to. 

(He  slinks  out  rear  and  as  he  is  closing  the 
doors  her  hands  reach  towards  him] 

Bertie ! 

(But  he  is  gone.  She  does  not  repeat  the 
cry;  the  moralist  conquers  the  mother.  But 
her  spirit  is  broken;  her  anger  dissolves 
into  sorrow.  She  weeps) 


Queen    Victoria  195 

DISRAELI 
(Sympathetically  ) 
Madam. 

VICTORIA 

My  life  is  crumbling  about  me. 

DISRAELI 
(Really  moved} 

How  can  Your  Majesty  utter  such  words  when  all 
England,  all  the  world ? 


VICTORIA 
Albert's  son.  .  .  . 

DISRAELI 

The  Prince,  Your  Majesty,  is  not  entangled  in  this 
affair.  He  is  merely  summoned  by  the  court,  as  an 
Englishman,  to  tell  what  he  knows  of  the  case.  And 
like  a  true  Englishman,  believing  in  justice  and  the 
administration  of  the  law,  he  will  respond  to  the 
summons. 

VICTORIA 

It  is  too  shameful!  Oh,  sir,  I  would  I  were  some 
poor  peasant  woman  grubbing  in  the  fields. 

DISRAELI 

My  Faerie! 


196  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

Oh,  why  should  I  remain  Queen  of  England,  when 
England  does  not  wish  a  queen?  And  after  me  my 
successor,  my  son,  will  mount  the  Throne,  soiled  with 
the  mud  of  the  gutter.  Why  should  I  go  on?  Why 
should  I  not  abdicate? 

DISRAELI 

(Startled) 
Your  Majesty! 

VICTORIA 
(  The  idea  takes  hold  of  her) 

The  monarchy  can  be  abolished,  all  of  Mr.  Glad 
stone's  hateful  reforms  adopted.  Perhaps  then  my 
enemies  will  leave  me  alone. 

DISRAELI 

No  sane  human  being  could  be  the  enemy  of  so 
glorious  a  Queen. 

VICTORIA 

The  great  sorrow  and  anxiety  and  hard  work  of  ten 
years,  alone,  unaided,  with  increasing  age  and  never 
very  strong  health  are  breaking  me  down.  And  now 
this  awful  thing  that  Bertie  has  done  will  increase 
the  irremediable  antagonism  between  the  Throne  and 
the  Nation.  Oh,  I  am  indeed  on  a  dreary  sad 
pinnacle  of  solitary  grandeur. 


Queen   Victoria  197 


DISRAELI 

Your  Majesty  is  momentarily  depressed  by  the 
Prince's  youthful  misadventure.  It  is  common  to  all 
youths  to 

VICTORIA 

I  knew  Albert  in  his  youth  I 

DISRAELI 

(Trying  again) 
The  youth  of  this  generation 


VICTORIA 

England  is  weary  of  me — I  have  lived  too  long. 

DISRAELI 

England  was  never  prouder. 

VICTORIA 

The  people  are  discontented. 

DISRAELI 

My  Faerie  has  but  to  let  the  populace  gaze  upon  her 
effulgent  person,  and  the  resplendent  light  which 
emanates  from  Your  Majesty  will  wither  it  like  a 
flower  exposed  to  the  sun's  too  brilliant  rays. 


ig8  Queen   Victoria 


VICTORIA 
Albert's  son — his  son.  .  .  . 

(She  turns  to  the  mantel,  rests  an  arm  upon 
it,  her  cheek  on  her  arm.  Her  body  shakes 
with  dry  sobs.  But  soon  she  controls  her 
self,  lifts  her  head,  and  as  she  does  so  her 
arm  upsets  the  vase.  It  falls  to  the  floor 
and  breaks} 

Oh,  our  vase ! 

(She  falls  on  her  knees  and  gathers  the 
larger  fragments  as  though  they  might  be 
put  together  again} 

DISRAELI 

(For  once  at  a  loss} 
It  is  only  a  little  vase. 

VICTORIA 

Albert  admired  it.  The  day  he  arrived  in  England 
from  Coburg  he  remarked  this  vase  and  admired  it. 
It  was  my  favorite,  too.  And  now  it  is  gone — shat 
tered — like  my  life.  .  .  . 

(A  pause.    She  has  a  terrible  idea} 

Perhaps,  some  day  the  memory  of  him  will  be  shat 
tered  like  this  vase  and  my  life !  .  .  . 


Queen    Victoria  199 

DISRAELI 
(Picking  up  the  primrose  from  the  floor) 

The  vase  is  broken,  my  Faerie,  but  this  primrose 
lives;  its  loveliness  is  undiminished.  The  flower  lives 
and  glows,  fragrant  and  exquisite.  The  life  of  a 
good  man  is  like  a  flower — not  a  vase.  It  cannot 
be  shattered,  and,  though  it  may  seem  to  fade  in 
death,  its  perfume  is  eternal  because  every  good  deed 
that  men  do  after  it  is  a  renewal  of  its  memory. 
Albert  will  live,  my  Faerie,  so  long  as  a  single  Eng 
lishman  is  kind  and  just  and  noble.  And  is  there 
not  another  lesson  you  and  I  can  learn  from  this  little 
flower? 

(He  places  it  gently  in  her  hand) 

The  plant  renews  itself.  The  old  plant  has  lovelier 
blossoms  than  the  young.  So  we,  who  are  alive,  we 
cannot  be  shattered  like  a  vase.  We  go  on  into  the 
future,  and  as  we  march  forward  we  put  forth  new 
and  finer  blossoms  in  our  ancient  springs. 

VICTORIA 
I  wish  it  had  not  been  broken.  .  .  . 

DISRAELI 

It  was  a  perishable  bauble,  my  Faerie.  But  I  shall 
lay  at  your  feet  an  enduring  bauble,  a  lovelier  bauble, 
a  bauble  that  the  great  of  the  earth  have  ever  yearned 
to  possess,  and  none  has  ever  achieved,  because  be 
fore  you  no  one  had  arrived  at  a  splendor  that  could 
rival  its  splendor.  No  one  in  all  history,  save  only 
you,  could  bring  to  it  a  greatness  equal  to  the  great- 


2OO  Queen    Victoria 

ness  it  confers.  But  you  who  have  reached  the  pin 
nacle  of  power,  the  apex  of  ambition,  the  supreme 
summit  of  mundane  magnificence;  you  who  stand  like 
a  star  high  above  the  world  of  little  men  and  little 
hopes,  like  a  star  clear  and  crystalline  against  the 
very  heavens  themselves — you,  most  lustrous  of 
Sovereigns,  will  honor  it  more  than  it  can  honor  you. 
It  will  be  but  another  jewel  in  your  dazzling  diadem, 
my  Faerie,  my  Queen,  my  Empress.  Empress  of 
India ! 

VICTORIA 

(Unconsciously  her  head  rears  up  proudly} 

Oh! 

(But  her  sadness  returns.  She  rises  with 
DISRAELI'S  aid,  goes  to  the  table  and  re 
gards  ALBERT'S  photograph} 

My  people  crying  out  against  me,  hating  me.  .  .  . 

Oh,  my  love,  my  love — I  am  so  alone.     If  you  were 

with  me !    If  you  were  only  here !  .  .  . 

DISRAELI 

If  the  Prince  were  here  would  he,  whose  sense  of 
duty  shone  with  the  rare  effulgence  of  the  most  lus 
trous  star  and  was  as  unwavering  as  the  sun  at  mid 
day,  would  he  permit  Your  Majesty  to  let  a  moment 
of  dejection  cast  England  into  the  depths  and  en 
danger  the  existence  of  the  Empire,  of  the  very  nation 
itself? 

(She  gazes  up  at  DlSRAELl) 

Would  he  not  counsel  you  to  continue  on  the  way  to 
a  greatness  such  as  no  mortal  has  ever  before  at 
tained — Dictatress  of  Europe — Empress  of  India? 


Queen    Victoria  201 


VICTORIA 
(After  a  moment) 
It  is  not  possible.    And  if  it  were.  .  .  . 

(She  glances  at  the.  Times  on  the  floor  and, 
shrugs  dejectedly) 

DISRAELI 

The  greatest  Sovereign  that  ever  has  been  or  that 
ever  will  be  must  have  the  greatest  position  men  can 
bestow;  she  must  stand  upon  the  apex  of  the  world. 
She  shall  be  Empress  of  India! 

VICTORIA 

I,  who  cannot  control  even  my  own  son ! 

DISRAELI 

The  Prince,  were  he  alive,  would  urge  Your  Majesty 
to  set  an  example  to  all  parents  suffering  from  the 
rashness  of  their  sons.  Would  he  not  take  your  hand 
and  walk  proudly  into  the  streets  of  London  saying 
to  all  mankind,  "Behold  how  a  Queen  can  bear  sor 
row?" 

(  This  has  a  marked  'effect  on  her) 

Does  there  not  come  from  the  impenetrable  zone 
wherein  his  rare  spirit  dwells  a  voice,  heard  only  by 
my  Faerie's  inner  soul;  a  voice  from  the  region  of 
all  wisdom,  uttering  the  single  word  'Duty'?" 

(She  stares  at  DISRAELI  with  wide  eyes. 
She  looks  at  the  photograph  of  ALBERT) 


2O2  Queen    Victoria 


VICTORIA 

You  always  said  we  should  rise  superior  to  our 
troubles — be  greater  than  they — greater.  .  .  . 

(She  reaches  a  resolution,  pulls  the  bell- 
rope,  then  returns  to  the  picture.  The 
FOOTMAN  enters) 

Despatch  a  messenger  to  Downing  Street  and  inform 
the  Prime  Minister  that  Her  Majesty  consents  to 
appear  in  Hammersmith  on  Thursday,  and  will  un 
veil  the  statue  of  the  poet  Wordsworth. 

(The  FOOTMAN  goes) 

DISRAELI 

My  Queen,  My  Empress,  My  faerie  Mistress  of 
the  World! 

VICTORIA 

(Having  made  her  decision,  her  'dejection 
passes,  and  she  is  all  energy  and  activity) 

We  have  much  work  to  do,  Mr.  Disraeli.  I  shall 
lean  heavily  upon  you. 

DISRAELI 

A  burden  that  would  honor  the  gods  themselves. 

VICTORIA 
You  will  lunch  here  and  remain  all  the  afternoon. 


Queen    Victoria  203 


DISRAELI 

My  duties  elsewhere — in  the  House  of  Commons — 
will  require 

VICTORIA 

My  requirement  takes  precedence. 

DISRAELI 
But,  Madam 

VICTORIA 
I  command. 

(DiSRAELi  makes  a  deep  bow  and  goes  out 
to  despatch  a  messenger  to  the  House.  The 
QUEEN  stands  staring  as  at  some  mirage. 
Her  'voice  is  faint,  a  whisper} 

Empress  of  India! 

(She  turns  slowly  to  ALBERT'S  photo 
graph} 

And  alone.   .  .  . 

(She  picks  up  the  photograph  and  gazes 
at  it] 

My  son — and  not  in  your  image.  .  .  . 
(Bitterly) 

Empress  of  India!     I  am  just  an  old  woman — a 
lonely  old  woman.  .  .  . 

(Then  with  a  strong  lift  of  her  head) 
He  would  have  me  conquer  even  age — for  England ! 


2O4  Queen    Victoria 

(DISRAELI  returns) 

Mr.  Disraeli,  if  I  should  become  the  Empress  of 
India 

DISRAELI 

My  Faerie  will  be  Empress  of  India. 

VICTORIA 

Then  I  must  understand  everything  about  my  Em 
pire — even  Ireland.  Now,  just  what  is  the  trouble 
in  Ireland?  I  have  tried  again  and  again  to  master 
that  question  and  have  never  quite  succeeded.  Cer 
tainly  you,  sir,  can  elucidate  it.  And  when  I 
understand  it  perfectly,  I  will  consult  with  you,  and 
together  we  will  settle  this  Irish  Question  once  for  all. 

DISRAELI 

(Bowing  low  over  her  hand) 
England,  my  Empress,  is  perpetually  doing  that. 


THE  CURTAIN  FALLS 


SEVENTH  EPISODE 

THRONE  ROOM  IN  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE 
JUNE  20,  1897 


SEVENTH  EPISODE 

//  is  the  Diamond  Jubilee,  in  June,  1897. 

On  the  glistening  floor  of  the  throne  room  of 
Buckingham  Palace  there  is  no  furniture  whatever, 
but  at  the  extreme  rear,  on  a  platform,  facing  toward 
us,  is  the  ornate,  empty  throne,  backed  by  a  richly 
embroidered  velvet  hanging.  On  our  right,  toward 
the  front,  are  tall  doors,  and  in  the  opposite  wall 
high  windows  through  which  we  see  the  gray-blue 
of  the  twilight  sky.  Some  of  that  twilight  blue  pene 
trates  to  dance  in  the  crystal  prisms  of  the  gorgeous 
chandeliers. 

Forming  the  center  of  the  small  group  of  men  on 
the  stage  is  MR.  GLADSTONE.  He  is  88  years  old, 
and  except  for  the  footman,  is  the  sole  survivor  from 
those  earlier  episodes  we  have  witnessed.  The  repre 
sentatives  of  the  Dominions  and  Crown  Colonies  who 
surround  him,  some  from  the  East  in  the  costumes 
of  their  native  lands  and  all  bright  with  ribbons  and 
decorations,  are  plainly  mindful  of  his  age  and 
honors.  When  he  speaks,  there  is  silence. 

GLADSTONE 

It  was  Mr.  Chamberlain's  idea  to  make  this  Diamond 
Jubilee  a  festival  of  the  British  Empire. 

NEW  ZEALAND  REPRESENTATIVE 

Splendid  idea. 

207 


208  Queen    Victoria 


CANADIAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

Let  me  fetch  you  a  chair,  Mr.  Gladstone. 

GLADSTONE 

Thank  you,  sir,  but  I  am  not  weary. 

NEW  ZEALAND  REPRESENTATIVE 

But  you  will  be,  Mr.  Gladstone,  before  the  evening 
is  over. 

GLADSTONE 

Sir,  I  have  lived  eighty-eight  years.  Surely,  that  is 
time  enough  for  one  to  learn  how  to  take  care  of 
himself. 

INDIAN   REPRESENTATIVE 

At  your  age,  sir,  you  have  surely  learned  that  to  take 
care  of  oneself  is  a  man's  first  duty. 

SOUTH  AFRICAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

And  for  you,  Mr.  Gladstone,  it  is  also  a  duty  to  the 
Empire. 

GLADSTONE 

But,  I  repeat,  I  am  not  at  all  weary. 

SOUTH  AFRICAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

Vanity,  sir,  vanity. 


Queen   Victoria  209 

NEW  ZEALAND  REPRESENTATIVE 

You  will  break  your  endurance  testing  it  so. 

GLADSTONE 

(With  dignity} 

I  have  never  yet  been  seated  in  the  presence  of  my 
Sovereign. 

AUSTRALIAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

The  Empress,  too,  will  find  these  ceremonies  fatigu 
ing. 

GLADSTONE 

Nothing  can  fatigue  Her  Majesty. 

CANADIAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

She  holds  up  marvellously  under  the  strain  of  the 
various  celebrations. 

INDIAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

Have  there  ever  been  such  gorgeous  ceremonies  be 
fore  in  England? 

AUSTRALIAN  REPRESENTATIVE 

No  Queen  anywhere  has  ever  made  such  a  triumphal 
progress  through  her  capital.  And  the  great  review 
at  Aldershot ! 


2IO  Queen    Victoria 


INDIAN    REPRESENTATIVE 


I  did  not  dream  that  Englishmen  were  capable  of 
such  enthusiasm. 


GLADSTONE 

A  fitting  climax  to  the  most  glorious  reign  in  English 
history — in  all  history. 

( The  doors  on  the  left  open  and  the  aged 
FOOTMAN  enters.  He  is  now  a  major- 
domo  with  a  staff.  He  seems  even  older 
than  GLADSTONE  and  only  his  vast  pride  in 
his  office  keeps  him  tolerably  erect  and  firm 
on  his  feet.  During  the  moment  that  the 
doors  are  open  a  murmur  of  many  voices 
and  faint  music  is  heard  outside.  The 
representatives  think  the  QUEEN  is  about 
to  appear,  and  form  two  lines  to  the 
throne.  The  Major-Domo  proceeds  up  the 
room.  A  door  beside  the  dais  opens;  the 
men  kneel.  But  only  the  PRINCE  OF 
WALES  comes  in.  He  is  approaching  old 
age,  too.  He  motions  to  the  guests  to  rise 
from  their  salute} 

WALES 

(To  Major-Domo} 
Are  the  ambassadors  all  assembled? 


Queen    Victoria  21 1 


MAJOR-DOMO 

Mr.  Whitelaw  Reid,  Ambassador  Extraordinary  of 
His  Excellency,  the  President  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  has  just  arrived,  Your  Royal  Highness. 
Should  I  ask  him  to  come  in? 


WALES 

No.  I've  told  you  half  a  dozen  times  that  this  is 
a  brief  reception  for  the  representatives  of  the  states 
of  the  Empire  and  for  them  only.  The  formal  recep 
tion  will  follow. 

MAJOR-DOMO 

Beg  pardon,  Your  Royal  Highness. 

WALES 

Have  all  the  ambassadors  arrived ' 

MAJOR-DOMO 

They  are  waiting  in  there,  Your  Royal  Highness. 

WALES 

Very  well,  then. 

(Looking  over  the  assemblage} 
Where  is  Lord  Salisbury? 


212  Queen    Victoria 


GLADSTONE 


The  Prime  Minister  is  delivering  the  Jubilee  address 
in  the  House,  Your  Royal  Highness,  and  will  come 
to  the  Palace  later,  heading  the  Commons'  delega 
tion. 

WALES 

Oh,  yes — yes.  That  was  on  the  agenda.  I  had  for 
gotten. 

(He  goes  out  rear.  The  MAJOR-DOMO 
follows.  Immediately  a  flourish  of  trum 
pets.  The  guests  take  their  places  once 
more  and  assume  deeply  respectful  atti 
tudes.  The  MAJOR-DOMO  returns.  Then 
the  LORD  CHAMBERLAIN) 

LORD   CHAMBERLAIN 
(Announcing} 

Her  Imperial  Majesty,  Victoria,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
Queen  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  and  the  Dominions  overseas.  Empress  of 
India. 

(Another  flourish  of  trumpets.  Gentlemen 
bearing  staffs  back  in;  two  Ladies  of  the 
Bedchamber  back  in.  Finally,  VICTORIA 
enters  and  mounts  the  dais.  A  long  pause. 
Then  she  speaks  in  a  quavering  voice) 


Queen   Victoria  213 


VICTORIA 

You  come  from  the  several  parts  of  my  Empire — 
of  the  British  Empire.  Through  you  to  all  my  sub 
jects  I  send  this  message:  From  my  heart  I  thank 
all  my  beloved  people  in  all  quarters  of  the  earth. 
May  God  bless  them!  For  sixty  years,  with  their 
loyal  support,  I  have  sat  upon  the  Throne  of  Eng 
land.  I— I 

(She  pauses,  a  faraway  light,  as  of  a  mem 
ory,  crossing  her  eyes} 

I  have  tried  to  be  good — to  be  a  good  Queen. 

(She  looks  into  the  distance — a  queer,  lit 
tle,  fat  figure,  who  somehow  is  regal.  A 
band  somewhere  plays  "God  Save  the 
Queen."  She  nods  her  head  to  the  music, 
after  a  moment  of  rigid  dignity,  and  smiles 
— a  benign,  old-lady  smile} 


THE  END 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 

COLLEGE  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Book  Slip-25m-9,'60(B2'936s4)4280 


oni  TSPwwl 

uu'  198  687 


UCLA-College  Library 

PS  3505  C177q 


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